BoxRec

"Beating Klitschko would make me an overnight legend, says Joshua"

Britain's IBF world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua believes beating Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley stadium in April would raise his status to the level of a "legend".

"This is a fight that can change (me) from champion to legend overnight," he told a news conference on Wednesday to promote the April 29 bout.

Does that mean that Leon Spinks should be considered a "legend" for defeating an over-the-hill version of Muhammad Ali?

There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of hype, embellishment and positivity, but Joshua’s claim is pushing things too far for my liking.

Enlightened-One wrote:"Beating Klitschko would make me an overnight legend, says Joshua"

Britain's IBF world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua believes beating Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley stadium in April would raise his status to the level of a "legend".

"This is a fight that can change (me) from champion to legend overnight," he told a news conference on Wednesday to promote the April 29 bout.

Does that mean that Leon Spinks should be considered a "legend" for defeating an over-the-hill version of Muhammad Ali?

There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of hype, embellishment and positivity, but Joshua’s claim is pushing things too far for my liking.

Hasn't Fury The Snowman become a legend off of one less than thrilling W over the same man? If AJ retires WKlit resoundingly, he will be remembered forever in the United Kingdom even if he mimics Fury's swan dive into a mountain of coke and ocean of booze.

..One can't be more delusional than that
Beating Klitschko would mean beating 41 old past-his-prime ex-champ...dominating division for 10 years could be a good start though to become a legend...

It would be a good start giving him a win over one of the most dominant HW champs ever as well as a win over a first ballot hall of famer before his 20th fight.

greg wrote:..One can't be more delusional than that
Beating Klitschko would mean beating 41 old past-his-prime ex-champ...dominating division for 10 years could be a good start though to become a legend...

Overnight Legend might be a stretch, but it would definitely push him into full blown Super Stardom which he's not far from now.

As wlad looks for the most meaningful win of his dreary career.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:As wlad looks for the most meaningful win of his dreary career.

Enlightened-One wrote:"Beating Klitschko would make me an overnight legend, says Joshua"

Britain's IBF world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua believes beating Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley stadium in April would raise his status to the level of a "legend".

"This is a fight that can change (me) from champion to legend overnight," he told a news conference on Wednesday to promote the April 29 bout.

Does that mean that Leon Spinks should be considered a "legend" for defeating an over-the-hill version of Muhammad Ali?

There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of hype, embellishment and positivity, but Joshua’s claim is pushing things too far for my liking.

Joshua is already a legend. Fewest rounds to a Heavyweight Title. Leon Spinks took 15 rounds to beat Ali so AJ became Champ with fewer total rounds elapsed in his career. AJ has a 100% KO ratio after 3 World Heavyweight Championship Fights. Look at AJ's shallow amateur career and his rapid advance is even more amazing. But this is a dangerous fight for AJ ... Klitschko has vast experience and he knows a lack of experience plus overconfidence are AJ's 2 biggest hurdles to overcome. He won't be planning on winning a decision. All of AJ's fights are out there for Wlad to study. He needs to find quirks in his jab a la Max Schmeling's famous KO of Joe Louis. He has plenty of material to study because all of AJ's fights are out there. I don't see any holes but I'm not studying every second of Joshua's fights. Every boxer has unique things they tend to repeat.

WK can be a brilliant counter puncher, but a big shot never reached Fury. He was contending with a 6'9" man with an 85" reach who has innate boxing instincts. Wlad's experience didn't mean crap as he never got a single big opening. Joshua is also a natural boxer and much more disciplined than Fury, so however WK intended to solve the Fury problem he's going to turn that on Joshua.

Joshua is one of the best natural right hand counter punchers I've ever seen -- but It's not a good idea to fight guys like Eric Molina who can't show you anything.. Nothing is coming back at you so your vigilance tends to drop -- like Robinson losing to Turpin after fighting a bunch of scrubs in non-title fights. But AJ needs very sharp spar mates who have height and reach, and he'll be good. The first 3 or 4 rounds will be very tense like the opening gambits of a chess match. Then AJ will start pushing the pace - getting inside... WK will be warned repeatedly for holding... AJ needs to be vigilant on the left hook as well as the jab and the right -- Wlad will plan something he doesn't expect and possibly sees something nobody else sees.. I see AJ going for the finish in the 9th or 10th round.. He'll stop Wlad late -- maybe by clean KO ...

AJ is a legend in the making -- but there's a lot of great Heavyweights out there right now. It WILL be an interesting 4 or 5 years for the Heavyweight Division and AJ is the focal point.. Wlad, Haye, Parker, Ortiz, Povetkin, Wilder, and even Fury -- bring those boys on because there'll be new Heavyweights 'round the bend in 3 years... Just don't do a Mike Tyson.

It would be true if Fury didn't expose Wlad earlier.

..I'm not aware of any other sport or any other field of human activity where the words like "legend/legacy" have been so largely misused as in boxing..

Joshua will immediately be more famous worldwide... That's how legends begin... In 20 years after he's retired, we'll know how big his legend will get.

If WKlit pulls this off his place in boxing history is improved dramatically.

Tanzio wrote: Hasn't Fury The Snowman become a legend off of one less than thrilling W over the same man?

No!
Who said that?

No-one, ever! That's who!

People say things and they can be taken out of context or they can contradict themselves or they can change their minds, the statement is showing a lot of respect for Klitchko and is selling a fight.

If AJ does win, and wins in spectacular KO fashion, and if it continues in this fashion (in terms of his career), this is the defining moment. Yes Klitchko got beat but he didn't get KOed and Fury went into exile. If he does win, and continues to win against the Wilders, Parkers of the world people will look back at this fight and see how he fared with an old Klitchko and compare him against a young one. Just like people continue to compare Tyson - Holmes, who had far less notice than 5 months notice. I think he had less than 3 weeks thanks to Don King, or at least thats what he says

Beating him in spectacular fashion. Super stardom surely and the beginning of a legend but it's the end a book that matters.

davie wrote:

Tanzio wrote: Hasn't Fury The Snowman become a legend off of one less than thrilling W over the same man?

No!
Who said that?

No-one, ever! That's who!

I am. He is a legend to his people. He fought his way into position for a shot at the longtime ruler of HWs. He boxed beautifully for a giant of a man, completely nullifying WKlit on the night.

He then went off the rails in a legendary way. Can he return? If he cleaned himself up and made a comeback attempt I would root for him. I have liked The Snowman since he punched himself all those years ago.

If he decides not to return, I completely respect his decision. No one can ever question his victory against the over the hill king, or his resolve to walk away.

Yes, The Snowman is already a legend, more for outside the ring.

Joshua beat nobodys so far, so, if he will beat Klitshcko, he will be a legend, is true.

Beating WK would mean Joshua has finnally beaten someone that isnt a tomato can but to become legendary he needs to beat everyone and hold title for 10+ years

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:As wlad looks for the most meaningful win of his dreary career.

Wlad is a HW legend. How long a champion? How many defences? I'll be interested to see what he has left..

Joshua here is what will make you a boxing legend.

1. Beat Wlad.
2. Unify the title.
3. Fight regularly.

The division is wide open. Look at Mike Tyson under Cayton, Jacobs and Rooney. They fought eight times in nineteen months against 3 belt holders, a ring magazine champion and three former titlist and an Olympian. People will say the division was weak and it was. But Tyson drained the swamp.

That's what the division needs a dominant fighter that fights regulary. If you beat Wlad and retire like Fury your no legend. Fury will be remembered as a wasted talent who never defended his title if he never comes back.

Does that mean he consideres Fury a legend.

Enlightened-One wrote:"Beating Klitschko would make me an overnight legend, says Joshua"

Britain's IBF world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua believes beating Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley stadium in April would raise his status to the level of a "legend".

"This is a fight that can change (me) from champion to legend overnight," he told a news conference on Wednesday to promote the April 29 bout.

Does that mean that Leon Spinks should be considered a "legend" for defeating an over-the-hill version of Muhammad Ali?

There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of hype, embellishment and positivity, but Joshua’s claim is pushing things too far for my liking.

Let's not get crazy here, Tony Joshua. We'd all be more impressed if you defeated Wilder than a 50 year old statue. Legend? Not likely just yet but he's well on his way. i'm glad Joshua is here and I look forward to his reign because he seems like a GREAT ambassador. But hopefully THIS FIGHT will not be his most notable win when he looks back in retirement. That would be wasted talent.

I think that, in a world where putting a funny video on Facebook or eating an 18" pizza makes someone a "legend", beating the great champion of the last 10-15 years probably qualifies.

I don't think he means beating Klitschko will elevate him to Lewis/Tyson levels...