BoxRec

I've been a keen follower of AJ from day 1, and it looks like he's already in a transitional phase from payday journeymen towards decent bangers and durable tests.
It's clear that he needs someone who can take him the rounds, withstand some punishment and actually push him a bit.
Kevin Johnson is probably the guy who should be in Sprott's place tonight because of his pedigree and endurance.

But my match for early 2015 would be Malik Scott. Yes he's 35 and yes he folded early on against Deontay WIlder, but look at his record. Full of wins in the high rounds and his last fight was a W against recent Klitschko opponent Alex Leapai.

Any other names?

Ian Lewison.

Eddie said joshua and kevin Johnson is made for the 02 in January, imo he should face kevin Johnson eddie chambers then david price

Kevin Johnson is a better step up than Malik Scott, hopefully we will see him take AJ past 6 rounds at least not sure he will though tbf AJ is a looking fooking monster.

Kevin Johnson just for yard stick purposes then a proper step up. I'd be looking for Ustinov if I were him.

Tor hamer

95gerog wrote:Tor hamer

He is dreadful and quits fights. I really hope your suggestion was a joke!

Kevin Johnson is the perfect opponent for Joshua.

He's wily, he's experienced & he's beatable.

He should give Joshua a workout that he sorely needs if he is thinking big for 2015.

Syntax Error wrote:Kevin Johnson is the perfect opponent for Joshua.

He's wily, he's experienced & he's beatable.

He should give Joshua a workout that he sorely needs if he is thinking big for 2015.

Would rather see an opponent who comes to win rather than survive. Why not put him in with an unbeaten prospect with a record similar to joshua?

rio wrote:

Syntax Error wrote:Kevin Johnson is the perfect opponent for Joshua.

He's wily, he's experienced & he's beatable.

He should give Joshua a workout that he sorely needs if he is thinking big for 2015.

Would rather see an opponent who comes to win rather than survive. Why not put him in with an unbeaten prospect with a record similar to joshua?

Because that would be dangerous and may derail the gravy train.

Kali Meehan or Malik Scott would be a step forward

whatever happened to the big hope called Hughie Fury , joshua would destroy him and tyson together

Dillian Whyte

soulboy wrote:whatever happened to the big hope called Hughie Fury , joshua would destroy him and tyson together

The argument against Hughie could be warranted... but Tyson? What meth have you been smoking?

I have a sneaking feeling that Joshua is going to blow Johnson out surprisingly early. I think in the end, Joshua is going to be forced to step up earlier than is normal, because he will keep blowing these old warhorses away.

Kevin Jonson fight is useless. Another washed up pensioner coming to loose. That teaches nothing to Joshua. He needs someone who can push him. I suggest Lucas Browne. Not the best technician but someone with punch, size and heart. Kali Meehan is another interesting option or Edmund Gerber or that Pianeta guy.

Joshua is such a hard guy to match. Anyone a bit worn, or not good enough just gets blasted out. But any fighter doesn't want to be overmatched early. Though after seeing Lomachenko, Usuk and the other Russian light heavy whose name I can't remember, good fighters can be thrown in early.

Heavies are more difficult because of the size, power and money involved.

Joshua's the hardest prospect to match I think. Someone with good stamina and chin, decent boxing skills but not a superb puncher would be suitable....

Not sure who fits that description though! Chagaev, Spilzka, Adamek etc too experienced; though I think he would beat then.

What about Chambers, Charr, Meehan?

If he keeps moving up the WBC, the only fights that I can think of that would be good for him are Arreola, Adamek, Charr. Maybe a Tony Thompson if he wants another pay day. This is of course after the Kevin Johnson fight.

What is the point in fighting Kevin johnson?we all know what will happen,it's OK getting rounds but he offers Joshua nothing back.might as well hit the bag for 12 rounds.

Let's see him in against a southpaw,something different.Szpilka is a decent shout or Terekshin(sp?)/Charles Martin similar heights and age.

rio wrote:

Syntax Error wrote:Kevin Johnson is the perfect opponent for Joshua.

He's wily, he's experienced & he's beatable.

He should give Joshua a workout that he sorely needs if he is thinking big for 2015.

Would rather see an opponent who comes to win rather than survive. Why not put him in with an unbeaten prospect with a record similar to joshua?

It's too early in his career to be pitting him against other prospects.

Kevin Johnson is a survivor, but he's the kind of opponent that Joshua needs, because he needs to learn how to deal with guys like Johnson, because not every opponent is going to fall over when he hits them & he needs to learn to conserve energy & change tactics in future contests.

Syntax Error wrote:Kevin Johnson is the perfect opponent for Joshua.

He's wily, he's experienced & he's beatable.

He should give Joshua a workout that he sorely needs if he is thinking big for 2015.

Beatable? hahaha He's looking for a points defeat before getting to the arena.

I worry for Kingpin in this one, journeyman tactics at HW is very dangerous and with AJs power it could be a hospital job.
He won't fight back, he'll tuck up and try to deflect everything for 10 rounds or whatever it is.

We all know AJ can punch so knocking out a shot to fk Johnson means little, we want to know if he can fight a fighter! Somebody who is coming to win. Somebody as tall as him. Somebody with similar power.

That's what I'm waiting for, anything else is just, meh.

would a defeat for Joshua at this stage really be that bad? Learning to fight against live opponents who actually come to win rather than survive would surely be better for him in the long run. Price, Chambers, Thompson, Browne, Cunningham would all surely be better fights for him now.

Tony Thompson, but probably more likely to get Tom Dallas.

HomicideHenry wrote:

soulboy wrote:whatever happened to the big hope called Hughie Fury , joshua would destroy him and tyson together

The argument against Hughie could be warranted... but Tyson? What meth have you been smoking?

I agree with Soulboy for what its worth.

It took fury 7 to dispose of Steve Cunningham. Maybe a good round tester for joshua? One of those fights to see if he can dispatch Cunny quicker? Then possibly set up a little hype against Fury and get the stokers in the fire for a year or 2 to build up some trash talk and get the public wanting the fight. I think these 2 have to meet up at some point, possibly when fury is on his last outing as a fighter.

It would be a good money spinner and a good payday to end the career of Fury.