How Much Legacy is on the line for Joshua?

[PRINCEKOOL]

Beating a career cruiserweight who hasn't defended his heavyweight belts yet is the best heavyweight win in 20 years? In what world?

Beating a Olympic Champion, Former Undisputed Cruiser weight world Champion, Undefeated, and currant WBA, WBO, IBF & IBO Heavyweight Champion of the the world 'At the peak of his powers'.

It will be the greatest Heavyweight win of the past 20 years. Kiltschko had been beaten numerous times before when Fury beat him, Mike Tyson was way outside of his peak when Lewis finally got to him and? He was kind of drugged up and out of condition for that fight.

The greatest wins of the past 20 years in the heavyweight division are, in not particular order.

Lennox Lewis vs David Tua 'Complete and utter domination'.

Lennox Lewis vs Vitali Kiltschko 'Understand the circumstances it was a great win for Lewis. He was out of condition, and still found a way to win. Nobody for the rest of Kiltschko's career would ever beat him up like Lewis did etc'.

Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder II.

Wladimir Kiltschko vs David Haye.

Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Kiltschko 'It was the greatest Heavyweight title bout of the past 20 years, you would have to go back to Bowe vs Holyfield I to witness another fight comparable'.

Lennox Lewis vs Mike Tyson 'Regardless of where Mike Tyson was at. This was still a great win. Even a out of condition Mike Tyson, was still in good condition compared to most heavyweights active today. Lewis stood up to Mike Tyson outside the ring, and he also fought a great fight inside the ring 'Really bombarded Mike Tyson, who fought hard until the end like a Gladiator'.

Tyson Fury vs Wladimir Kiltschko 'It was a underwhelming fight, but Fury got the job done. And his life and people's perceptions of him have never been the same since that fight. It was his mount Everest, and no win will ever have the same catalytic effect 'He broke the dominance of the Kiltschko's'.

David Haye vs Nikolai Valuev 'Haye was being out weighed by 8 stone. This was David Haye's second fight at Heavyweight. He out boxed Valuev, and astonishing, hurt him real bad in the fight 'Solidifying his punching power;.

Note: Usyk is a undefeated fighter, a unprecedented talent and at the peak of his powers. That is what sets him apart as a challenge to all those other fighters mentioned up above. Anthony Joshua, is attempting to do something that has never been done before 'All Usyk has ever done is win, Joshua now has to change all of that'.

It will be the greatest Heavyweight win of the past 20 years.

[hhh1200]

Fury's generational wealth is on the line. See how the AJ situation has him acting. Imagine some fanboy favorite Eastern European just based on his name bc if he was named Campbell or Taylor no one would care standing in the way of a $300 million deposit in your bank accounts.

[REDEEMER]

He didn't actually fight to a draw with Fury, he was comprehensively beaten.

Saying Ortiz was better than Wlad or Parker is really reaching. Wladimir was ring magazine number one in the division and Parker held a title (Ring rating 3?).

Ortiz has not even come close to replicating something like that. He's probably equal with Ruiz in terms of achievements, pre AJ. Ruiz obviously has a better record now.

Ruiz was the former unified champion,Ortiz isn’t in those talks of achievements not close .

There seems to be a lot of frightened posters on here should A.J win if he does as he should he’ll be holding 5 belts this time when he collects the ring magazine as well and these loons will say he’s not above Wilder or a proven fighter .

We know how it’s going to go and the OP is very predictable he cleverly takes away where he wants while putting up an image of being unbiased, remember it’s the same poster who added an extra fighter to Wilder in his crazy numbers rankings to get him past A.J as the better fighter .

[JakeTheBoxer]

Joe Frazier went 1-4 vs Ali and Foreman
Norton 1-3

They managed to have a legacy of sorts.

Even if AJ gets blown out, it's still a single loss.
AJ should be able to wipe out everyone else.

Hm, based on what?

Joshua is very basic, I can easily see Wilder knock him out.

[BodyBagz]

Hm, based on what?

Joshua is very basic, I can easily see Wilder knock him out.

Basic > Sloppy

Not saying Wilder couldn't KO AJ, just saying AJ could outbox Wilder if he needed too.
If AJ catches Wilder, it could be over for him as well. Let's agree he hits much harder than Fury.

Wilder being the ''best'' of the rest

[Willow The Wisp]

Is Anthony Joshua one of the best heavyweights of his generation? YES.
looking over his record, unification of most of the belts, Whyte, Martin, Klitschko (though a swansong version), Parker, Takam, Ruiz (though a redemptive rematch), etc. He's accomplished allot.

But is he in the same class with Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder????

....not if he fails to shine tonight. No way.
The other two have never been tarnished like that. Not even against each other.

For Anthony Joshua and greatness, the moment of truth has arrived.

[Apollo7]

It's all about the overall career and what happens in the future. Beating Usyk would be a great win imo amd Joshua could go on to have an amazing legacy if he were to then beat Fury and/or become undisputed. Conversely beating Usyk would seem less significant if Joshua goes on to lose to another Ruiz type. Especially if Usyk doesn't go on to do much at heavyweight.

Likewise a loss also might not effect his legacy too badly if Joshua gets some other good wins and Usyk goes on to become undisputed at heavyweight as well.

[Willow The Wisp]

I guess that today, we have our answer. Or at least, another piece of the answer. Joshua is still in his prime, after all.
Is Anthony Joshua one of the best heavyweights of his generation? YES.

But is he in the same class with Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder???? NO. Fury is two notches above him, and Wilder one notch above.
That's no longer up for discussion.

Notwithstanding, when a fighter decides to choose Boxing over MMA & Kickboxing, and test himself for the multi-millions instead of settling for the hundreds of thousands, and dives strait into the larger, older & more internationally recognized talent pool of competition; he is making a statement that he will not settle for the lower goal. And If he wins world titles there; he is a fighter above all other fighters; and that is precisely what Anthony Joshua did. Respect.
Wilder versus Joshua, anyone??

[Willow The Wisp]

Ruiz was the former unified champion,Ortiz isn’t in those talks of achievements not close .

There seems to be a lot of frightened posters on here should A.J win if he does as he should he’ll be holding 5 belts this time when he collects the ring magazine as well and these loons will say he’s not above Wilder or a proven fighter .

We know how it’s going to go and the OP is very predictable he cleverly takes away where he wants while putting up an image of being unbiased, remember it’s the same poster who added an extra fighter to Wilder in his crazy numbers rankings to get him past A.J as the better fighter .

Well if I update my list of class 3+ fighers faced by Wilder and Joshua, then Joshua picks up another one after last night to have now faced just as many as Wilder has. Alas, it was another loss for Joshua, so he gets more points deduced. Thereby widening the gap further between Wilder & Joshua's career accomplishments against class 3+ opponents. Sorry buddy, but BOTH Fury and Deontay Wilder have passed your boy by. Neither Tyson Fury OR Deontay Wilder have ever gone 1 and 3 against guys like Ruiz and Usyk.
But of course....it ain't over yet for any of them. So don't give up hope just yet.

[Willow The Wisp]

P.S. The only reason Ruiz is a title claimant and Ortiz isn't is because Ortiz chose the better champion to challenge....which is pretty obvious at this point in the reveal.