BoxRec

Anthony Joshua has been weighing up whether he will be ringside or not for the biggest heavyweight fight of the year between his two rivals Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury on December 1st.

He’s made the decision now and has opted to not go due to sponsorship commitments.

That said, he’s just back from a holiday in Jamaica and it does appear to be rather surprising considering most sponsorship commitments can be done online these days.

Or even at that, you would have thought he’d have been able to have taken a night off to get to LA to watch a fight that carries so much importance for him.

He’s said he wants to unify the heavyweight division next year and to do that he needs to get through the winner of December 1st so the whole thing seems rather strange.

A bit of a PR opportunity to build the fight for him against the winner missed too.

Here’s what boxing fans have been saying:

Why would he? his got no intention of fighting the winner he can watch on tv like the rest of us,

— Andy Georgiou (@PugilisticNews) November 22, 2018

In other words, Eddie has told him no

— Patrick Murphy (@PatrickMurphy89) November 22, 2018

Aka didn’t fancy being near the two men he has clearly avoided for the last few years

— No-mas (@15roundcunky) November 22, 2018

Aj is so shook of wilder.

— realmagicman (@damagicmansrant) November 22, 2018

Bullshit he’s fornicating shook

— Mauriziooö (@_yagxnnCFC) November 22, 2018

Eddies cash cow being protected once again

— JordanT98 (@jordant98_) November 22, 2018

Bullshit the fraud just didn’t want to get exposed by the winner

— Terry Franklin (@T_Franklin86) November 22, 2018

He’s scared of what he might see tosser

— Alan Michie (@kantekovajorgh) November 22, 2018

Couldn't give 2 fvcks if he's there or not

Funny how nothing was made of Tyson fury not attending the parker fight due to commitments.

Neither fury or wilder went to povetkin

have any of them attended ajs fights

Would surprise me is he is scared....of what exactly? whats to be scared about?

There must be a reason stopping him and maybe it is sponsorship stuff, I just can't see any reason for him not to go there. Makes total sense surely to keep all the casuals happy and see the winner and him face of in the ring like usually happens after the result.

Crazyboy wrote: ↑22 Nov 2018, 12:59 Would surprise me is he is scared....of what exactly? whats to be scared about?

There must be a reason stopping him and maybe it is sponsorship stuff, I just can't see any reason for him not to go there. Makes total sense surely to keep all the casuals happy and see the winner and him face of in the ring like usually happens after the result.

Like wilder and fury have done in AJ last few fights?

The only way he'd get in the ring after the fight is if they were announcing a fight.

It means nothing that he isn't there, just like it didn't mean jack when the others didn't go to AJs fights(although they would have seen more fans)

nitro5912 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2018, 13:05

Crazyboy wrote: ↑22 Nov 2018, 12:59 Would surprise me is he is scared....of what exactly? whats to be scared about?

There must be a reason stopping him and maybe it is sponsorship stuff, I just can't see any reason for him not to go there. Makes total sense surely to keep all the casuals happy and see the winner and him face of in the ring like usually happens after the result.

Like wilder and fury have done in AJ last few fights?

The only way he'd get in the ring after the fight is if they were announcing a fight.

It means nothing that he isn't there, just like it didn't mean jack when the others didn't go to AJs fights(although they would have seen more fans)

yeh that's fair enough

Small ripple in an espresso cup. Is the newscycle this desperate?

Hearn told mr humble not too because if there is confrontation. Joshua may show his true colours and people will see the caring sportsmanship is not Joshua’s true face

Not especially an AJ fan, but he'll stay out of it and keep his reputation above the fray like a champion should. Everyone is chasing him, he doesn't need to chase anyone else.

Spiker wrote: ↑22 Nov 2018, 13:26 Hearn told mr humble not too because if there is confrontation. Joshua may show his true colours and people will see the caring sportsmanship is not Joshua’s true face

Maybe he just doesn’t want to go?

Spiker wrote: ↑22 Nov 2018, 13:26 Hearn told mr humble not too because if there is confrontation. Joshua may show his true colours and people will see the caring sportsmanship is not Joshua’s true face

What like he nearly did against Miller?

Non story. Maybe he does not give a fck and has no interest. If he fights one, he fights him. So what. How many of his previous opponents' fights has he attended? One or two, and probably not to scope them out, just happened to be there if at all.

I don’t think Joshua even likes boxing.. he knows he’s decent and just doing it to make money.

He never attends any shows tbh. As soon as his fights over, he chips to Malaga or Jamaica or wherever. Then comes back to UK just in time for his next fight to be announced.. then he’s hidden whilst at training camp.

That’s pretty much it.

As genuine boxing fans, surely this thread is beneath us.

Like most he is slightly curious as to what might go on but as it doesn’t really matter, can’t be bothered with the actual effort and time spend of going so will catch it on TV

He should go. When Lewis hit the top he went to Grant-Golota and instructed his team to get him Grant next. It looks like Whyte then Miller next for AJ and although I'll watch both fights it would be a year of treading water for Joshua if that is how it pans out. They are running out of wriggle room.

Maybe Joshua just doesnt want confrontation,if i was him tho id defo be there it could add a couple of mill to my pay packet

thechump wrote: ↑22 Nov 2018, 14:58 Maybe Joshua just doesnt want confrontation,if i was him tho id defo be there it could add a couple of mill to my pay packet

It won't add anything.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Nov 2018, 14:42 I don’t think Joshua even likes boxing.. he knows he’s decent and just doing it to make money.

He never attends any shows tbh. As soon as his fights over, he chips to Malaga or Jamaica or wherever. Then comes back to UK just in time for his next fight to be announced.. then he’s hidden whilst at training camp.

That’s pretty much it.

I've seen him at Sky shows a few times.

Hearn told him not to go, because Hearn doesn't want to do anything that might encourage anyone to buy the Wilder vs Fury card. If Joshua is there, fans see a possibility of Joshua vs the winner happening afterwards. That encourages buys. That improves Wilder's bargaining position.

Deleted_Scenes wrote: ↑22 Nov 2018, 15:39 Hearn told him not to go, because Hearn doesn't want to do anything that might encourage anyone to buy the Wilder vs Fury card. If Joshua is there, fans see a possibility of Joshua vs the winner happening afterwards. That encourages buys. That improves Wilder's bargaining position.

The bigger this show turns out the bigger AJ v. Winner would pan out and make any split worth more wealth.

samwbr wrote: ↑22 Nov 2018, 15:21

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Nov 2018, 14:42 I don’t think Joshua even likes boxing.. he knows he’s decent and just doing it to make money.

He never attends any shows tbh. As soon as his fights over, he chips to Malaga or Jamaica or wherever. Then comes back to UK just in time for his next fight to be announced.. then he’s hidden whilst at training camp.

That’s pretty much it.

I've seen him at Sky shows a few times.

Which one?

Last time i think I saw him was at British Beef back in Feb and that’s because he co-promoted it.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Nov 2018, 16:16

samwbr wrote: ↑22 Nov 2018, 15:21

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Nov 2018, 14:42 I don’t think Joshua even likes boxing.. he knows he’s decent and just doing it to make money.

He never attends any shows tbh. As soon as his fights over, he chips to Malaga or Jamaica or wherever. Then comes back to UK just in time for his next fight to be announced.. then he’s hidden whilst at training camp.

That’s pretty much it.

I've seen him at Sky shows a few times.

Which one?

Last time i think I saw him was at British Beef back in Feb and that’s because he co-promoted it.

O the TV I mean, he seems to be there now and again.