It's normal to be afraid of someone that beat you once. But I don't think AJ has any doubt in his mind that he was going to beat Ruiz in the rematch. He turned his fear into courage at the end. We have to respect him for that!
Not saying Fury didn't train well, only that he took the fight lightly and Joshua didnt.
And no Ngannou didnt win anymore than Zhang did on the weekend just by knocking the other guy down, and i wouldn't trust anything the gypsy dosser says anymore than Fast Eddie Hearn.
They lie!!!
Fury/Ngannou wasnt a fight anyone was calling for and neither was Joshua/Ngannou or would have been made if not for the desert turki and his cashed up posse of murderous camel jockeys.
You're right. The rematch is no longer needed. All I'm saying is that the dude deserve some respect for his boldness to step into the ring with the topmost guys in the HW division.
I recently told someone that despite Ngannou devastating defeat in the hands of AJ. I still see him beat Fury if they ever meet again. Fury now solely depend on his size and weight to win fights and that will be counter productive when fighting an MMA giant like Ngannou who can easily wrestle his way out of a clinch and hugs.
Context is important. Joshua didn't go after two lowly ranked opponents/gatekeepers after losing twice to Usyk. He went after Franklin and then Whyte. Whyte is no lowly ranked opponent. Hellinuis is just a late replacement and you know this.
Also he didn't go after a lowly ranked fighter after a loss; he rematched Usyk, and moved on only after.
Wilder should have rematched Parker. Now that he didn't, he should fight someone credible, like Bakole, Ruiz, Kabayel, Hirgovic, Dubois, or Whyte. If he loses again then he can get a soft touch. Besides, his entire career is packed with soft touches.
You've made a valid points here. Kudos!
Sanchez believes himself to be a legit boxing heavyweight contender.
I'd like to see him prove it against AJ and AJ prove he can expose Sanchez as not...
I think Sanchez should go for Joyce or Dubios if he doesn't get called upon by Joshua.
A true legit boxing heavyweight contender would be nice...
Sanchez or Hrgovic would be my picks.
My thoughts exactly. He needs a true legit HW contender to remain relevant.
The word "legit" should be taken out. He hasn't done anything to warrant that tag. He hasn't even been in any final eliminator to begin with.
More legit? Zhang, Hirgovic, Dubois, Joyce, Kabayel, Wallin, Whyte. Even Bakole is way ahead of him. Beating an undefeated Yoka was better than beating an undefeated Ajagba. And to add to that, Bakole has Kuzmin & Takam.
Sanchez needs about two more solid wins to get into the convo.
I couldn't agree more.
Because he got beat by a former two-time heavyweight champion of the world? Come on!
Just last year, we witness this same guy battered Fury from pillar to post. I think Ngannou can still beat many HW guys in the top 20.
I think he should fight Fury next. And it is possible, only if Fury is willing. I don't buy into this talk of a two fight deal between Fury/Usyk. I agree it is in the contract, but I believe the Saudis will pay step aside to one of the parties after the first fight and then allow AJ hop in.
Even if Fury comes out the loser of the undisputed, we can still have AJ/Fury and Usyk/Hirgovic.
There's also a chance Fury shuns the undisputed and goes straight into an AJ fight. Better to lose to AJ than to Usyk. Nothing will surprise me with Fury.
If all the above isn't an option, then go for Kabayel or a Justin Hunni while he waits; fight Hirgovic only if it is for a vacant belt.
Yea, Fury's fight could've made more sense but as said, contractual obligations won't make that feasible for now. Besides, I am not so sure that Fury will ever want to fight this version of Josh. It seems he is extremely obsessed with his unbeaten record.
Dubois, Ajagba, Bakole, Parker, Kabayel or Sanchez are a good lots to choose from. I don't know about Hunni, though.
Not saying Dubious would win and certainly not easy if he did, just saying he'd expose Sanchez as not being all that and a bag of chips.
Oh, Okay. I get your point.
Is there any clarity as to why Wilder didn't accept the fight? His fans want him to be taken seriously, but Wilder hasn't been moving like a fighter who gives a shxt about their career anymore.
Personally, I don't think it is wise for Wilder to fight heavy puncher like Zhang after losing to Parker. He should go for at least two lowly ranked opponents/ gatekeepers to regain his confidence just like AJ did after losing twice to Usyk.
Gonna be Hrgovic I think and that's a good fight.
I hope so. That'll be good for both fighters. If Tyson turns up on May 18th for the undisputed fight, then the IBF belt should be available for Joshua-Hrgovic bout.
He probably can but who's going to put up money to stage it or buy tickets to see it in person or on-line ?
Ngannou was a clownshow exhibition stay busy fight the desert Turki paid for shïts n giggles.
Fury took Ngannou lightly and got sat on his arse for it. Joshua didn't and sat Ngannou on his arse for it.
Fury's legacy isn't at all tarnished because he got knocked down in a crossover exhibition anymore then if he'd lost to a 'pro' wrestler in the WWE.
Fury's legacy will be defined by beating or losing to Usyk and he knows it.
If Fury can beat Usyk in May I'd be happy if he called it quits to become a 'pro' wrestler and face Ngannou in that medium.
They could fake grapple and hug each other, sniff each others butts and have a great ol time, which i would gladly pay to see. Who wouldn't ?
As for boxing, there's no place for Ngannou to go that isnt a step down and backwards.
It may be true that Fury didn't train well for the fight as you highlighted above but the main thing is Fury fought Ngannou, and a discomforting amount of pundits believe Francis won. Stop disrespecting Francis and stop making excuses for Fury. He did train for the fight for 12 good weeks according Fury himself.
I don`t know if Joshua beats Fury, Zhang, Sanchez, Hrgovic, Kabayel.
But I am sure he would fight all of them.
I must say I respect Joshua as a fighter. He wouldn`t say who the f.uck is Hrgovic, he would just fight him.
I had liked Fury more. But Fury disappointed me with taking to many easy fights and he ducked almost all the challengers.
Joshua is ready to take them on.
So true!
I never bought into the Wallin mystique.
He cut Fury in the fight of his life after his Dad died a few days earlier and didn't do jack against anyone of note afterwards.
He was made out as a top 10 contender to be spoonfed to AJ knowing he was nothing more than a sparring partner, journeyman and looking for a Saudi payday.
I don't think Sanchez is a stone cold killer either and think even the dreadfully dubious dubois would expose him.
I disagree with the last part. No way Dubois beat Sanchez with ease. He guy will be too swift for Dubois.
Time to put the myth of The Cuban Flash to bed and AJ may as well be the one to do it...
It's not like he's got anyone else on his dance card and needs to bank a few decent rounds by the time a title shot becomes available.
Sanchez will give him that with interest! Follow Parker's lead and clear out the division.
Take Hrgovic to school, expose Sanchez, rematch Parker, end Wilders career whatever, just don't go back to crushing cans and putting on exhibitions.
100% spot on! This is exactly what he needs to do at this stage of his career. Thank God he has rediscovered himself. If he can beat all these guys within two years, then history will be kind him.
That's fair, but he's wasted so much time. He has allowed ego/greed to cloud his judgement. He was supposed to be rebuilding alongside AJ, but he decided to remain inactive. Now Wilder has zero momentum because of his crappy performance against Parker.
As for your OP, Hrgovic is the most logical opponent, but Dubois is also acceptable.
Exactly. Wilder and Ruiz are ruining their own careers by being inactive. Sad to see.
Hrgovic. Keep that bum from getting to knock over another bum for the vacant IBF if/when the Usyk v Fury winner gets stripped.
Why call Hrgovic a bum? He has beaten everyone put in front of him till date.
Hrgovic is a major bum and the next highest rated guy by the IBF besides Joshua is DuBois, who is a major bum.
But the young man has beaten all placed in front of him.
I agree. I'd like to see him fight someone at least at that level. It's time to step this comeback up a notch and show that he's really back to elite.
But don't forget that Wallin was a legitimate top 10 guy until Joshua comfortably beat him up - then he wasn't anymore. I don't see Sanchez being much more of a test.
Hrgovic is the more interesting fight purely because he's in line for a title fight. It could even end up being a title fight against Joshua. From what I've seen of Hrgovic, Joshua's speed would be too much for him.
I think so too.
Joshua's will, zeal and speed in the last two fights may overwhelmed Hrgovic if he can replicate it.
It also seems he punch way more harder now than before.
A contender please. Hrgovic, Sanchez, or maybe Anderson if he can figure himself out. If Wilder isn't actually done, he needs to fight someone first. Maybe he can fight Joyce, or if they want to have a battle of the power punchers and milk Ngannou more, that's the fight I always thought was most reasonable for Ngannou. I'd like Kabayel v Dubois also, Wardley v Jalolov, and Bakole v Charr.
I would like to see Wilder vs Ngannou. Lol...
That would be interesting. Wilder vs. Ajagba, too.
Miller is such an obvious fight for Wilder if he really wants to continue.
He'll beat that useless fat FK, and Miller will guarantee some trash talk to build up the fight.
Exactly. Miller is highly hittable. I see Wilder sending him to thw Intensive Care Unit within six rounds. A fight with Miller will likely return his confidence.
Good options, I would be very interested in seeing AJ vs Sanchez - this man is fast, technical and powerful enough. There are very promising fighters that are in the top 15-25, but better than others who are before them. I hope their management can do the best for their careers, so they can eventually prove if they really are.
Sanchez is a formidable opponent that shouldn't be taken lightly. Though, I think it's 60/40 fight with AJ having the slight edge because of his power and experience. I'd love to see the fight soon.
Hrgovic comes with a slight risk but someone needs to get him out of the way sooner or later.
May as well have that fight.
Wilder would be getting the fight if he'd got off his ass and beat Zhang Saturday. But he stayed at home while Parker rose to the challenge.
Yea, Wilder and Ruiz have been unnecessarily inactive and that is killing their careers. At least, Hrgovic is somehow keeping himself busy.
If Fury is genuinely gonna be tied with up with Usyk then i'd be happy with Sanchez, Hrgovic, Bakole or Parker 2.
Its a shame that Wilder, Zhang, Joyce and Makhmudov all got derailed because those would have been great options too.
Exactly.
For a few mil even i'd step into the ring and get KTFO too.
Respect for Ngannou leaving Cameroon as a refugee and getting to where he's set up for multiple lifetimes cash wise.
For his boxing skill, yeah nah. Not even!
Lol...
Hrgovic or Wilder imo.
Wilder fighting AJ after that last poor performance against Parker will be career ending for him. Wilder needs a couple of turn-up fights.
He barely survived Zhang (won legitimately though, but too close). Then he showed some extremely dirty game against De Mori. His only good victory so far is McKean. But having a tough head and strong punches, he is a decent option for AJ, they are the same size and weight. AJ can go with Dubois, Kabayel, or even Bakole or simply rematch Parker.
Now I understand. But fighters often have off nights. I think they shouldn't be judge by one poor performance.
Regarding the other names you listed. They are all good options. Sanchez, Ajagba and Anderson are also good names, too.