Who should be Joshua's next opponent?

[Onetimeonly]

And he's a soft fatty. AJ will eat him up. I hope there's a chance on a different opponent. I'd even take Pulev (Mr. Excitement) over Ruiz.

The only prayer is Bryan. I'd way prefer that in every way.

[oogiebe]

The only prayer is Bryan. I'd way prefer that in every way.

I'm starting to agree with that. The unknown factor at least.

[Onetimeonly]

I'm starting to agree with that. The unknown factor at least.

Wipes out a strap too.

[oogiebe]

Wipes out a strap too.

I would suspect that WBA doesn't want both regular and super belts in one man's hands though.

[Onetimeonly]

I would suspect that WBA doesn't want both regular and super belts in one man's hands though.

They make those fights, doesn't mean they don't replace the shit one or elevate Charr from regular to interim.

[oogiebe]

They make those fights, doesn't mean they don't replace the poo one or elevate Charr from regular to interim.

LOL! Right.

[Ilya Muromets]

This is so tedious. How long will they draw this out? Ortiz I'd be interested; Ruiz I'd watch; the others commonly mentioned I doubt if I'd even look at the fightnews report - "Joshua KO's so and so in 3!" Ho hum who would have guessed. Hey, let him fight Miller drugs or no drugs. That's the one I wanted to see!

[candyslim]

I can't see the problem with Ruiz. I'm more unimpressed with his inactivity than his physical condition. He seems to have good endurance and stamina rather like Jarre ... ok perhaps we won't go there. I rate Parker as an elite level heavyweight (somewhere around 5 to 10 in the world). Ruiz showed he was pretty much on Parker's level, some even had him winning on Parker's turf..

Hunter is a trickier fight for AJ, like Povetkin, Hunter could make him look clumsy and awkward until he works Hunter out and settles into a rhythm, but a win over Hunter won't mean as much as beating Ruiz in the eyes of most fans who aren't hardcore.

Also a crushing win over a PBC fighter such as Ruiz, Ortiz or Kownacki gives Wilder one less potential victim and should in theory bring the unification that bit closer. Both these guys need opponents to fight if they are not fighting each other or Fury.

[Onetimeonly]

No fans that aren't hardcore have ever heard of Ruiz or hunter. Most in the States wouldn't even know Joshua. Fine to prefer Ruiz, but that part doesn't make sense.

[oogiebe]

No fans that aren't hardcore have ever heard of Ruiz or hunter. Most in the States wouldn't even know Joshua. Fine to prefer Ruiz, but that part doesn't make sense.

I think Hunter would have made it interesting for a spell. With Ruiz, we would just be waiting for the inevitable beat down.

[Onetimeonly]

I think Hunter would have made it interesting for a spell. With Ruiz, we would just be waiting for the inevitable beat down.

Agreed, but nobody knows. I haven't missed a Josh fight in quite awhile. No chance I watch this.

[candyslim]

I'm only talking about boxing fans: At one extreme you've got the hardcore. At the other you've got the casuals, but there are plenty between these two extremes. I'd qualify as hardcore when it comes to heavyweights but i can't hold a candle to your knowledge in most weight categories, and many on here leave me standing. Ask me about the Bantams I wouldn't have a scooby.

So plenty of people who consider themselves boxing fans but don't frequent forums or take an interest in fighters outside the top ten might well think of Hunter as a cruiserweight and an Usyk victim with no business fighting the likes of AJ. Ruiz they might respect.

[Onetimeonly]

They also might think of hunter as a former Olympian who gave usyk a solid fight and isn't a fat guy that struggled with liakhovich. I don't respect Ruiz, not sure why they would. I don't think either do anything for Josh in anyone's eyes. Just a substitute victim.

[Ilya Muromets]

They also might think of hunter as a former Olympian who gave usyk a solid fight and isn't a fat guy that struggled with liakhovich. I don't respect Ruiz, not sure why they would. I don't think either do anything for Josh in anyone's eyes. Just a substitute victim.

Ruiz didn't just struggle with (a bored and disinterested) Liakhovich. Liakhovich beat him, but they gave it to Ruiz to please all the Mexican fans in attendance.

[oogiebe]

Ruiz didn't just struggle with (a bored and disinterested) Liakhovich. Liakhovich beat him, but they gave it to Ruiz to please all the Mexican fans in attendance.

Maybe you should change your name to "Charlie Z"...

[Ilya Muromets]

Maybe you should change your name to "Charlie Z"...

How so? I don't go around sucker punching guys in gyms. I haven't heard about that boy lately. His record must be about 2,000 - 0 by now!

[oogiebe]

How so? I don't go around sucker punching guys in gyms. I haven't heard about that boy lately. His record must be about 2,000 - 0 by now!

LOL! He's a train wreck I can't turn away from. The best was watching him get his arse kicked by a 16 year old.

[candyslim]

They also might think of hunter as a former Olympian who gave usyk a solid fight and isn't a fat guy that struggled with liakhovich. I don't respect Ruiz, not sure why they would. I don't think either do anything for Josh in anyone's eyes. Just a substitute victim.

I'd imagine more would remember the WBO Title Challenge against Parker than would remember the Liakhovic fight Ok neither guys are Ortiz, I guess there aren't too many of us who aren't hoping he's the man.

[Ilya Muromets]

LOL! He's a train wreck I can't turn away from. The best was watching him get his arse kicked by a 16 year old.

Yeah but he called time out ha ha ha!

[oogiebe]

Yeah but he called time out ha ha ha!

That he did!!!

[Ilya Muromets]

I'd imagine more would remember the WBO Title Challenge against Parker than would remember the Liakhovic fight Ok neither guys are Ortiz, I guess there aren't too many of us who aren't hoping he's the man.

I particularly remember the Liakhovich fight because I thought that something is wrong with Liak., either mentally, or more likely the mob has their foot on his neck, because of the way he stood there expressionlessly when the robbery decision for Ruiz was announced, and also because of the way he appeared to deliberately lose his won fight against Briggs in the last round.

[candyslim]

Ilya surely you of all people wouldn't be suggesting any kind of skullduggery going on?

[Ilya Muromets]

That he did!!!

Don't the boxing rules say if one guy calls time out the fight has to stop? The 16 year old didn't honor that rule so Charley counted it as another win. Actually that's what Wilder did in his fight with Ortiz!

[Ilya Muromets]

Ilya surely you of all people wouldn't be suggesting any kind of skullduggery going on?

Silly me thinking that there might be something unethical going on in the Wonderful World of Boxing. Next I might suggest that politicians tell little fibs every now and then, even used car dealers! Ha ha silly me!

[Onetimeonly]

I'd imagine more would remember the WBO Title Challenge against Parker than would remember the Liakhovic fight Ok neither guys are Ortiz, I guess there aren't too many of us who aren't hoping he's the man.

Fair enough, that fight sucked tho.