Comments Thread For: Once Dominant, Joshua Faces Usyk as Champion of Uncertainty

[Toffee]

Ur really trying to convince yourself that AJ did in fact, make a serious attempt to secure the top guys at heavyweight.

This argument was weak a year ago. Nowadays it just looks like you're not paying attention.

It's over. Both fighters have confirmed that Joshua made good deals with them for fights.

[M111]

Completely agree with comments regarding wilder avoiding fight with Joshua rather than the other way around. Wilder has since gone on record and admitted he took less money than he could have made fighting Joshua to take the Fury fight so it categorically was him that avoided that fight period. The $50M offer he made wasn’t sanctioned by his promoter at the time and Joshua’s side never had that offer on paper - the smoke and mirrors were all Wilder. He took the Fury fight as he thought he’d keep his title and avoided Joshua like the plague.

re the Usyk fight, I think people are seriously underestimating Usyk and making a lot of assumptions that don’t ring true. Yes Chisora got close in the first few and probably wobbled him a few times in the process. Yea Joshua is a better finisher, but his cardio ain’t all that when he does and if he can’t blow someone out of there he spends two rounds recovering and is vulnerable. I think he’ll be slightly gun shy or at least hold back as he can’t afford to empty the tank early on like he did with Ruiz and like he almost did against Klitschko. I also think he’ll struggle with a southpaw. Not convinced the extra reach will be enough for Joshua or even make a difference. Usyk is light on his feet and Joshua doesn’t cut down the ring that well. I think Joshua will tag him once or twice early but will fail to capitalise and I expect Usyk to stop Joshua in the later rounds once stamina comes into play. I don’t think Usyk’s power will be an issue - he showed with Bellew that he’s got enough accuracy and speed to finish the job. Joshua’s best work is at close or mid quarters. I don’t think he’ll get close enough often enough to make it count.

[removed]

So do you really think fury and wilder wouldn’t agree to a fight because Joshua had “all the usual advantages”?

Please share these unfair advantages your concerned about.

Fury had of course agreed to a deal which only fell through because of the wilder court case, so it’s only Wilder who hasn’t agreed terms with Joshua.

Whyte, Klitschko, Pulev, Takam, Brezeale, Ruiz, Povetkin, Miller, Usyk, Fury all these fighters agreed to fight Joshua. Only Wilder hasn’t. Go figure.

Last time i saw AJ fighting in the UK he was calling his own breaks.

[removed]

Oh yeah, Joshua has never been "the man" in the division, let alone been dominant. He's yet to dethrone a real champion.

[Wacked_Out]

Aj s an average looking very big non athletic sorta hard hitting musclebound. And now days he fights scared. I dont think hes all that confident in himself. I think he's number 3 right now. Fury would win a split decision and Wilder would take him out. Wilder wont need skill hes way too athletic for AJ and his demeanor would totally intimidate AJ who fights like he's almost paralyzed at the thought of losing.. Where as Fury is kind of crazy and loves that ****.
Oh and Whyte, Pulev (especially Pulev), Takam, Brezeale, Povetkin all really kind of suck, Klitchko was an old shell. Wilder and Fury competition might not be much better but AJ aint fighting no killers.

[Oldskoolg]

I suspect we will learn very early in the fight if Usyk can hang with the larger Joshua. As with Lewis abs Holyfield, this fight may simply come down to a natural size advantage….but then again, it may come down to skills.

[Szef]

What's intriguing about this fight is that Joshua and Usyk both won gold at the same Olympics

Most anticipated fight of the year to me

Sorry but Canelo/Plant or Crawford/Porter doesn't move a need for me

[Liondw]

Joshua could've knocked out the fat Ruiz in their rematch, but I guess understandably played it super safe.

Usyk is tricky, and I don't see Joshua stopping him. I think it'll go the distance, with a scrappy win, or controversial one, for AJ.

It would be incredibly impressive if Joshua stops Usyk, who seems very tough, even though he was roughed up in part by Chisora.

[rckdees]

Dominant???…..his best win was against a 40 year old who hadn’t fought in 2 years and he should’ve lost that

[REDEEMER]

Does the editor know AJ popularity and stock went up after the Ruiz fight and sky rocketed after the rematch win ? It’s like these guys don’t watch boxing and make assumptions . AJ has won 21 rounds in his last 2 fights ,he hasn’t lost a single round between Ruiz and Pulev ,how more dominant can you be ? Ha