AJ should fight Tony Yoka next

Well I suppose a UK man born from non Uk parents will defeat a French man born from non French parents! Leave it to the promoters to market this one. Can some please explain to an American why two nations are at odds in a sporting sense?​ It's all promoter spin at the end of the day. They are shameless. You get U.S. vs Mexico rivalries in boxing and U.S. vs UK, or Mexico vs Puerto Rico etc. There's nothing strange about it. Tribalism adds to the hype around the fight.

Yoka as a pro is a garbage. Somebody like Kabayel is much better fight. Yoka is inferior to Kabayel (at least the Kabayel who schooled Chisora 6 years ago) but Yoka makes more sense for Matchroom: bigger name, less risk, less risk of a boring 12 round fight where AJ looks terrible etc.

He’s already beat Zhang. As I’ve said, based on their amateur fight, it’s a winnable fight for Joshua. Amateurish results don`t dont in pro boxing. Fighting for 12 rounds and for 3 rounds is not exactly the same thing.

Yoka as a pro is a garbage. Somebody like Kabayel is much better fight.

I can clearly envision how Eddie would market it: - Battle of the Olympic gold medallists - Britain vs France - Two strong, hungry, determined heavyweights, fighting for a seat at the top table “Yoka’s a seriously tough kid Koogz. The man’s never been stopped and he’s been in with some killers.” “A lot of people thought he beat Bakole and Takam. Very close split decisions against proven world class operators. He’s still arguably undefeated.” “Did you see what he did to Allen and Duhaupas? Deontay Wilder isn’t near Yoka’s level.” Well I suppose a UK man born from non Uk parents will defeat a French man born from non French parents! Leave it to the promoters to market this one. Can some please explain to an American why two nations are at odds in a sporting sense?​

Oh yeah, I forgot about him. Yoka v wilder.

Statistically southpaws are a massive problem: https://www.boxingscene.com/forums/boxing-forums/non-stop-boxing/32035339-southpaws-are-hugely-overrepresented-as-victors-against-top-heavyweights Usyk being a southpaw was irrelevant. Joshua is flat footed, limited head movement, no inside game, against a fleet footed, technically skilled and accurate fighter he’s always gonna have the same problems.

I think it's a very unwinnable fight for AJ at this stage. But this is just my opinion against yours. What isn't opinion is whether they make the Zhang fight or whether they put AJ in with another pudding. If they put AJ in with a pudding it shows they lack confidence against Zhang, hence they don't see it as a very winnable fight. 34 year old AJ might beat anyone in your imagination but he has to get in the ring and prove it. That means not fighting jobbers like Franklin and Helenius, let alone having tough fights with them. He’s already beat Zhang. As I’ve said, based on their amateur fight, it’s a winnable fight for Joshua.

"He's very beatable." Zhang has obvious weaknesses: below average gas tank and slow feet. But he has a lot of good attributes and is a dangerous fighter, especially for someone who got beat down and quit in 7 against fringe contender Andy Ruiz. And whose pro record against southpaws is 1-2. Zhang didn't just demolish Joyce x2 (who beat Parker, Dubois, edged Jennings), many if not most thought he deserved the decision against Hrgovic and Zhang certainly inflicted most of the damage, maybe a huge majority, despite getting outworked. I don't think a 34 year old mentally shopworn AJ has a good chance against Zhang. Maybe I'm wrong but we'll see if Hearn thinks I'm wrong. It'll be Yoka or Kabayel is my guess. Yoka would be ideal if AJ wants to look good and gain more confidence. Not the easiest to market when he Yoka couldn't beat a 65 year old takam. But Yoka should still be good enough to be a half decent open but no real risk to AJ. Kabayel isn't great but he has a style that can be difficult to look good against. It wouldn't surprise me at all if AJ fought him and beat him but made it a struggle. Not the best idea when they're trying to rebuild his confidence.

That was AJ's 2nd amateur fight when Whyte beat him. He barely had any experience. Dillian had been fighting I'm combat sports for years by then from a young age and was a good kickboxer and boxer. Its hardly a surprise that AJ lost that one. On the flipside, AJ was actually still quite a novice even as an amateur when he beat Zhang. Aj had only been boxing a couple of years. Anyway, amateur and pro's very different. AJ can beat Zhang as a pro, but I wouldn't be confident of this version that's lacking in confidence to do it. But he has the ability to... Zhang is nothing special. People only know him from his last few fights and fighting an idiot like Joyce that defends with his face. Zhang will look completely different against top heavyweights who don't use their chin as their only defence. He's very beatable. AJ would chin Zhang if he was confident like he used to be. "He's very beatable." Zhang has obvious weaknesses: below average gas tank and slow feet. But he has a lot of good attributes and is a dangerous fighter, especially for someone who got beat down and quit in 7 against fringe contender Andy Ruiz. And whose pro record against southpaws is 1-2. Zhang didn't just demolish Joyce x2 (who beat Parker, Dubois, edged Jennings), many if not most thought he deserved the decision against Hrgovic and Zhang certainly inflicted most of the damage, maybe a huge majority, despite getting outworked. I don't think a 34 year old mentally shopworn AJ has a good chance against Zhang. Maybe I'm wrong but we'll see if Hearn thinks I'm wrong. It'll be Yoka or Kabayel is my guess.

Team Joshua’s fear of southpaws is weird man, Usyk being a southpaw wasn’t the problem, Usyk being a far superior boxer was the problem. Statistically southpaws are a massive problem: https://www.boxingscene.com/forums/boxing-forums/non-stop-boxing/32035339-southpaws-are-hugely-overrepresented-as-victors-against-top-heavyweights

Whyte and Joshua were novices, Joshua and Zhang were seniors fighting in the Olympics. Whether it happens or not is irrelevant, Zhang is a very winnable fight for AJ. I think it's a very unwinnable fight for AJ at this stage. But this is just my opinion against yours. What isn't opinion is whether they make the Zhang fight or whether they put AJ in with another pudding. If they put AJ in with a pudding it shows they lack confidence against Zhang, hence they don't see it as a very winnable fight. 34 year old AJ might beat anyone in your imagination but he has to get in the ring and prove it. That means not fighting jobbers like Franklin and Helenius, let alone having tough fights with them.

Team Joshua’s fear of southpaws is weird man, Usyk being a southpaw wasn’t the problem, Usyk being a far superior boxer was the problem. Joshua only fought Usyk , becuase Usyk was his mandatory.

Joshua`s best chance is Hrgovic, if Hrgovic can beat Wallin for vacant IBF title. I don`t think Joshua wants to fight Zhang or Wallin, no sir.

Battle of two gifted gold medals :lol1: I just came here to say the same hahahaa...

Southpaw. Never happen. Team Joshua’s fear of southpaws is weird man, Usyk being a southpaw wasn’t the problem, Usyk being a far superior boxer was the problem.

Would be a bigger dud than AJ-Franklin/Helenius. AJ should fight Zhang IMO. I think it’s a very winnable fight for him. Southpaw. Never happen.

Battle of two gifted gold medals :lol1:

Whyte beat AJ in the amateurs and AJ beat him in the pros. A lot has changed in the last 11+ years. Message me back telling me I'm an idiot when they make the Zhang fight. Whyte and Joshua were novices, Joshua and Zhang were seniors fighting in the Olympics. Whether it happens or not is irrelevant, Zhang is a very winnable fight for AJ.

Whyte beat AJ in the amateurs and AJ beat him in the pros. A lot has changed in the last 11+ years. Message me back telling me I'm an idiot when they make the Zhang fight. That was AJ's 2nd amateur fight when Whyte beat him. He barely had any experience. Dillian had been fighting I'm combat sports for years by then from a young age and was a good kickboxer and boxer. Its hardly a surprise that AJ lost that one. On the flipside, AJ was actually still quite a novice even as an amateur when he beat Zhang. Aj had only been boxing a couple of years. Anyway, amateur and pro's very different. AJ can beat Zhang as a pro, but I wouldn't be confident of this version that's lacking in confidence to do it. But he has the ability to... Zhang is nothing special. People only know him from his last few fights and fighting an idiot like Joyce that defends with his face. Zhang will look completely different against top heavyweights who don't use their chin as their only defence. He's very beatable. AJ would chin Zhang if he was confident like he used to be.