BoxRec

Matchroom have it up still for the 02 show in Jan but according to boxrec its been moved to the Newcastle show in April, anyone know for sure, hope Matchroom don't
become like the other promoters and leave shows up without updating etc.

Had heard a rumour or two that it had been moved but nothing from anyone official.

Expect Joshua on the bill but if this is right its a shame and we will probably see another mark time fight before Johnson in April.

They need to be a little careful with Josh' he looked a trifle bored after the Sprott fight, first time I have not seen him smiling his head off through interviews.

Think it's just an error on the schedule.

expe wrote:Think it's just an error on the schedule.

Hoping so, hopefully some one in the know can clear it up.

Eddie said about a week ago that it's an error and its still jan.

Good stuff

broomy7s wrote:Eddie said about a week ago that it's an error and its still jan.

Indeed.
Joshua will probably be out again in April if he beats Johnson, more especially if he KOs him early (not saying that this will happen!).

Would Sexton be a worthy opponent for Joshua, or would it be a time waster?

If Joshua stops Johnson or deals with him emphatically then I would expect a fight in Newcastle in April will have to be a top 20 world ranked opponent, otherwise it would be a step back and I can't see Hearn slowing down on him now.
This is a big year for Joshua.

Clint Magnum wrote:If Joshua stops Johnson or deals with him emphatically then I would expect a fight in Newcastle in April will have to be a top 20 world ranked opponent, otherwise it would be a step back and I can't see Hearn slowing down on him now.
This is a big year for Joshua.

People say this with every prospect. Whenever they step up it's all 'Oh, they can't step down again now' and then, oh, they've stepped down again. For two years. See Tyson Fury.

There simply aren't enough decent fighters or viable fights at heavyweight for this mythical 'linear increase in opponent quality' to actually exist.

If Joshua takes Johnson apart and stops him, does that mean he will completely bypass the British and Commonwealth titles?

lillywhite14 wrote:If Joshua takes Johnson apart and stops him, does that mean he will completely bypass the British and Commonwealth titles?

I'm guessing he'll still go for them - as they're always nice to have on your CV and sell a fight, and Fury (who I think would beat AJ at present) will probably vacate to chase world honours. In the meantime Joshua can be patient and wait for the dust to settle on the world titles. Presumably the odds are that Wlad will have all 4 major belts by the end of 2015. No way Joshua challenges Wlad before at least 2016 ... but if Stiverne, Wilder or Fury somehow manage to have a world title by the end of 2015, then matchroom might be confident enough in Joshua by then to go for the big one against an easier (e.g. non-Klitschko) opponent.

There's nothing to say Joshua couldn't pick up the British against someone like Del Boy if and when Fury vacates.

Would be a decent little step up too.

Clint Magnum wrote:If Joshua stops Johnson or deals with him emphatically then I would expect a fight in Newcastle in April will have to be a top 20 world ranked opponent, otherwise it would be a step back and I can't see Hearn slowing down on him now.
This is a big year for Joshua.

It really depends on how frequently he'll fight next year. If the plan is for him to box 6 or more times, he'll need to fight some lesser opposition; irrespective of what the fans want to see, Hearn still needs Joshua to fight as frequently as possible, preferably in title fights.

To expect the level of opposition to improve with each bout is unfair and unrealistic.

Sexton would have been a good shout in phase one but this is a tricky stage for the match makers. There are only so many fighters who are between national and world level that would actually take a Joshua fight.

AJ could do what Frank Bruno did which is bypass the British title and go to European. Tyson Fury is currently the European champ but presumably he'd be vacating that once the fight with Vladimir finally comes around.

Riddick Blowe wrote:People say this with every prospect. Whenever they step up it's all 'Oh, they can't step down again now' and then, oh, they've stepped down again. For two years. See Tyson Fury.

There simply aren't enough decent fighters or viable fights at heavyweight for this mythical 'linear increase in opponent quality' to actually exist.

Comments about a fighter not being able to take a step back are not based on any sort of boxing reality.

Do these people watch boxing? What are they on about? (Rant is not aimed at Clint Magnum).

Eddie can and will match him against who he wants and may well bypass the British. I think this will be a mistake though as he needs the experience. It will be a real mistake if he gets chucked into genuine world class if he has never been past 3 rounds. I've got a bad feeling at top level Joshua might be a touch Brunoesque.
If Eddy does a job with Joshua, like FW did with Hatton I reckon it will be the ricght thing to do. keep him busy, stick him in against all sorts of faded veterans and hopeful no hopers, in 12 round fights, then he will have the experience to take on all comers.

Assuming he beats Johnson he should go for the British and euro titles to gain experience before stepping up to world level in 2016 this kid needs rounds more than anything else.

Unless his fights for British are Whyte, H Fury, Chisora, Price and T fury then theres no point!

AJ beats Fury now. Ask Fury how sparring with AJ went, take it from me it did'nt go to well and Vlad had trouble with AJ too. Shows he is ready to mix it a this level but 1 or 2 more fights under his belt will be great experience if he can get the rounds in.

fighting_irish wrote:AJ beats Fury now. Ask Fury how sparring with AJ went, take it from me it did'nt go to well and Vlad had trouble with AJ too. Shows he is ready to mix it a this level but 1 or 2 more fights under his belt will be great experience if he can get the rounds in.

Take it from me he lost twice in the Olympics.

Fighting Fury now would be rushing Joshua when there is no need. He 'could' beat Fury now but why not give it another 18 months when Joshua 'should' be in a position where he would be a very warm favourite in a Fury fight.

So is joshua still fighting in Newcastle you think ?

Alba wrote:So is joshua still fighting in Newcastle you think ?

Supposed to be, although the cynic in me says that he won't fight 3 weeks before Johnson and he's only on there as a name to shift tickets, only for him to pull out closer to the date.

expe wrote:

Alba wrote:So is joshua still fighting in Newcastle you think ?

Supposed to be, although the cynic in me says that he won't fight 3 weeks before Johnson and he's only on there as a name to shift tickets, only for him to pull out closer to the date.

Nah, it will be a punchbag of a fighter to get him back in the ring for a round to get him back into the swing of things before Johnson.

Every time I watch Joshua on TV I see that funny-shaped chin of his and see a 21st century Frank Bruno. Not saying there was anything odd about the shape of Bruno's chin, mind you.