BoxRec

Here are the names I am interested in. Hearn goes on about him being the next LL so I see no reason why he would not pick 1 of these opponents (realistically he wont tho):

Dominic Breazeale- The golden boy US version of Joshua. Fought in the same Olympics as Joshua, currently 12-0 (11 kos) would come realistically expecting to win unlike any of Joshua previous opponents. 60/40 fight

Joseph Parker- Like Joshua and Breazeale considered one of the top prospects in heavyweight boxing. The 22 years old phenom 10-0 (9ko) has already ko brian minto in his 9th fight. 60/40 fight

Erkan Teper- This guy ko'd rogan and sprott in 1 round. Easy sell. Very dangerous but hes had around the same fights as Joshua and could be a euro final eliminator. 60/40 fight

Chris Arreola- Beating this guy would answer a lot of questions, mainly in the jaw department. Arreola brings it every time and does not have a reverse button. Punches like a mule and has as much heart as anyone. 50/50 fight

David Price- Huge domestic fight. Bombs away. Can Joshua take a punch from one of boxings biggest punchers and vise-versa. 55/45 fight

Lucas Browne- Brown seems to be able to take a punch as good as he gives one making him a tough opponent for anyone at heavy. Beating Browne would defo announce Joshua on the world scene. It could very well end badly though, whatever happens questions would be answered. Commonwealth title fight. 50/50 fight.

Eddie Chambers- Fast eddie has fought as the pinnacle of the sport. Not a big puncher but a good boxer. Being part of team fury, beating chambers would set the stage for a feud with Tyson Fury which would be a ppv event. 60/40 fight

Joshua shouldn't be in a 50/50 or 60/40 fight at any point in 2015.

Horse wrote:Joshua shouldn't be in a 50/50 or 60/40 fight at any point in 2015.

Why? I thought you advocate competitive matchups.

Don't think Breazeale, Browne or Chambers have hardly any chance of beating Joshua let alone 40% or better.

It will be someone like Derric Rossy. Fair name who was in Prizefighter, so they have his phone number

lefty wrote:

Horse wrote:Joshua shouldn't be in a 50/50 or 60/40 fight at any point in 2015.

Why? I thought you advocate competitive matchups.

Competitive yes but a 50/50 or 60/40 match-up means there is a significant chance of him losing. He’s a nine fight novice and has only been boxing 7 years. Considering his age there is no need to take that big a risk with him. From purely a fan’s perspective it definitely would be nice to see him in such a fight but from a trainer’s perspective it’s a no-no. It could harm his development and confidence to take a loss so early. It actually did David Haye some good (the Carl Thompson loss) but he could have easily been ruined in that fight.

From a promoter’s view there’s no way they’ll take a chance with such a potential cashcow; a loss now would massively harm his earning potential (for them) and his marketability as “the next unified champion”. So horse is being realistic when he says he won’t/shouldn’t be in too hard a fight until 2016.

black panther wrote:

lefty wrote:

Horse wrote:Joshua shouldn't be in a 50/50 or 60/40 fight at any point in 2015.

Why? I thought you advocate competitive matchups.

Competitive yes but a 50/50 or 60/40 match-up means there is a significant chance of him losing. He’s a nine fight novice and has only been boxing 7 years. Considering his age there is no need to take that big a risk with him. From purely a fan’s perspective it definitely would be nice to see him in such a fight but from a trainer’s perspective it’s a no-no. It could harm his development and confidence to take a loss so early. It actually did David Haye some good (the Carl Thompson loss) but he could have easily been ruined in that fight.

From a promoter’s view there’s no way they’ll take a chance with such a potential cashcow; a loss now would massively harm his earning potential (for them) and his marketability as “the next unified champion”. So horse is being realistic when he says he won’t/shouldn’t be in too hard a fight until 2016.

This exactly, I fear the hype (and Eddie Hearns excitment) might result in Joshua being rushed. If hes going to be the great talent they think he can be I really hope its done properly and not rushed just cuz the casuals have jumped on the bandwagon a lot sooner than would normally.

Big Audley.

ILikeBeer wrote:Big Audley.

I couldn't see Audley seeing out the first round. It'd be like when Price flattened him.

It should be someone like Kevin Johnson. Very durable so will give rounds, but never ambitious enough to really try. If AJ does better than Fury or Chisora with him it would make a good statement.

Minto wouldn't be a bad shout....he's a fairly durable trial horse and direct comparison could be made between how Joshua handles him compared to Parker. In all reality I'd expect Joshua to take him out inside 2 rounds though. Anthony is obviously a vicious puncher, but its his accuracy and ability to throw in combination that usually durable heavyweights thus far just can't handle.

Ideally I'd like to see Kevin Johnson selected. He'd pose some different things being a skilled defensive fighter. He'd not simply be there to be hit which would give Joshua something new to ponder, and an inside schedule win would be genuinely noteworthy.

There was talk about Parker fighting in December against Kyotaro Fujimoto (vacant OPBF title fight) so I'd rule him out

Teper is a good call and never a 60/40 fight. Teper is heavy handed but slow and with Joshua's speed I'd imagine the Englishman would have a field day with his jab

Horse wrote:Joshua shouldn't be in a 50/50 or 60/40 fight at any point in 2015.

Degale was in 60/40 50/50 fight as the same stage in his career and they have identical backgrounds

rio wrote:

Horse wrote:Joshua shouldn't be in a 50/50 or 60/40 fight at any point in 2015.

Degale was in 60/40 50/50 fight as the same stage in his career and they have identical backgrounds

Errr no they don't mate. Degale started boxing aged 10. Joshua started aged 18; massive difference.

Degale had a much more extensive amateur career.

To me a 50/50 fight at this stage would be someone as high up the ranks as Povetkin, and the more I think about it the more I favour Joshua to steamroll him, so not even that.

I think he does need to be in a fight where he goes 12 rounds against a guy who doesn't trouble him before he has a fight where he gets extended beyond 5 rounds by a guy who does fight back well. I still think that Zavarotni guy would be a good opponent after Sprott, and if Joshua goes and irons him out too well then (if I was promoting him) we'd have to put up with the rigmarole of having Kevin Johnson over here boring the pants off of us again.

I think that level of opponent is realistic personally. People seem to be getting annoyed with the talk of Price and Fury etc. That's just promoter talk, Frankie Gavin was talking about the Amir Khan fight after he fought Sakky Shikkikatu (sp.) They all do it. Just ignore it and try and stay realistic with how we develop fighters in the UK.

black panther wrote:

rio wrote:

Horse wrote:Joshua shouldn't be in a 50/50 or 60/40 fight at any point in 2015.

Degale was in 60/40 50/50 fight as the same stage in his career and they have identical backgrounds

Errr no they don't mate. Degale started boxing aged 10. Joshua started aged 18; massive difference.

Degale had a much more extensive amateur career.

Both Olympic gold medalist around the same age

Yes rio you are correct in that sense but:

1. The middleweight division is a lot deeper than the heavyweight division
2. You've ignored my point about Degale having started boxing at a much younger age and having far more amateur bouts.

Joshua only had around 34 contests; Degale had 95.


I’m not trying to have a go mate but rather trying to make you understand the difference between starting boxing at 10 years old compared to 18 years old.
It takes years to master the finer nuances of boxing; many never do. Degale at the same stage in his career was far more developed than Joshua in terms of technique, punch repertoire, defensive manoeuvres etc. Also, regardless of the stats/records on paper, each boxer is an individual and need to be treated as such. You need to assess where they are in terms of conditioning, technique, mentality, tactical nous etc. and develop accordingly.

Hope this helps expand my point.

[quote="black panther"]Yes rio you are correct in that sense but:

1. The middleweight division is a lot deeper than the heavyweight division
2. You've ignored my point about Degale having started boxing at a much younger age and having far more amateur bouts.

Joshua only had around 34 contests; Degale had 95.


I’m not trying to have a go mate but rather trying to make you understand the difference between starting boxing at 10 years old compared to 18 years old.
It takes years to master the finer nuances of boxing; many never do. Degale at the same stage in his career was far more developed than Joshua in terms of technique, punch repertoire, defensive manoeuvres etc. Also, regardless of the stats/records on paper, each boxer is an individual and need to be treated as such. You need to assess where they are in terms of conditioning, technique, mentality, tactical nous etc. and develop accordingly.

Fair point. But I think any gold medalist should be fast tracked especially after seeing what joshua has done to his opponents so far. He is definitely ready to step up to one of the above names as so far he has been unable to work up a sweat in any of his fight.

Boxing, the only sport where walking is advocated when you have the ability to run

Agreed that one/two round knockover jobs aren't really aiding his progress and if there is no element of danger in his bouts, he could develop bad habits.

That being said he just needs different styles and sizes of opponents at thios stage. A small slippery trickster who rarely gets stopped like Zack Page or Sherman "The Tank" Williams, a big behemoth like the Molecule from Hell (who had a good win in last bout) ...in essence a variety of opponents to give him different things to think about.

black panther wrote:

rio wrote:

Horse wrote:Joshua shouldn't be in a 50/50 or 60/40 fight at any point in 2015.

Degale was in 60/40 50/50 fight as the same stage in his career and they have identical backgrounds

Errr no they don't mate. Degale started boxing aged 10. Joshua started aged 18; massive difference.

Degale had a much more extensive amateur career.

How old was the Japanese Murata when he started boxing? Ps i dont particularily disagree with your viewpoint by the way.

This is a bit of a nutty one and would be too much of a risk even though I dont think he would be that much of a threat in reality .... Mariuz Wach. I dont think he's quick enough or skilled enough to truely challenge Joshua but he is very durable shown by his fight with Wlad. Johnson is a great shout though for sure! Maybe even Toney for the same kind of being able to go rounds kind of way. From a moral perspective though, Toney isnt probably the best idea.

Johnson would get rounds but poses little threat of an upset unless the fight is in the southern hemisphere! I class that as a 70/30 fight, but in all honesty don't really see it as competitive that's why a left it out the poll. Also i am sick of hearn bigging up an opponent saying he went 8 rounds with so and so, took so and so to a decision, you can see hearn bigging that fight up now.....the guy who went 12 rounds with klit, fury and chisora conviniently forgetting to mention he lost all 36 rounds! A-force is a 90/10 fight making it completely pointless fight, really has R1 ko written all over it and if that don't happen he will get criticized. Nothing to gain from that fight. I am only intrested in competitive fight for joshua where his opponent has a chance of winning. Hearn said he will win a title in 2016. Any of the opponents mentioned would be a great starting block to that goal

rio wrote:Johnson would get rounds but poses little threat of an upset unless the fight is in the southern hemisphere! I class that as a 70/30 fight, but in all honesty don't really see it as competitive that's why a left it out the poll. Also i am sick of hearn bigging up an opponent saying he went 8 rounds with so and so, took so and so to a decision, you can see hearn bigging that fight up now.....the guy who went 12 rounds with klit, fury and chisora conviniently forgetting to mention he lost all 36 rounds! A-force is a 90/10 fight making it completely pointless fight, really has R1 ko written all over it and if that don't happen he will get criticized. Nothing to gain from that fight. I am only intrested in competitive fight for joshua where his opponent has a chance of winning. Hearn said he will win a title in 2016. Any of the opponents mentioned would be a great starting block to that goal

What about Wach then? I'd definietly favour Joshua to win but I think it would be dangerous if he wasnt fully alert.