The best Joshua I’ve seen was the one against Ruiz 2. He seemed like he came in lighter than usual and game plan to box and he did that beautifully. If he can get back to that, he can beat any heavyweight… that Joshua would of beaten Usyk
He outboxed Ruiz because Ruiz was 283.7 lbs potato sack. Peak weight of Fury was 277 lbs in Wilder 3. Do the math.
Also, Ruiz was never elite boxer. He is in brawler category. Joshua's peak boxing was in the Usyk fights. He stole 4 rounds from an elite mover in both fights.
You gotta learn that fighters' performances should be evaluated for his opponents.
While that may be true,he boxed relatively well in both Usyk fights considering it just so happened to be against one of most skilled,elite boxers in the sport at any weight. He could very well outbox any other heavyweight with what he displayed in there against Usyk,actually I'm certain of it.
Joshua has had two fights back to back, 24 rounds with a super elite fighter at his peak in Usyk.
Yes Joshua lost both fights, but to acquire that sort of experience is invaluable.
Plus Joshua improved from the first fight. Out of the two fighters, Joshua was the most improved fighter during the rematch.
And if a third fight was made, I honestly believe that trajectory would most likely continue.
The positives Joshua can take from those fights are that. 1: He improved during the rematch. 2: Joshua is probably the most experienced active Heavyweight, at boxing World to Elite level fighters.
What actual fighters active in the Heavyweight division today, have more experience than Joshua at world or elite level? Since Joshua's 16th-17th professional fight, he has consistently been fighting at World or Elite level 'Objectively the rankings of his opponents prove this to be a fact'.
That is why I don't buy into his notion, that Joshua is inexperienced.
Tyson Fury does not have the level of experience Joshua has at world or elite level.
Joshua has pretty much had 12 consecutive fights that on ranking objectively, were ether world or elite level Heavyweight fights.
There are no other Top Heavyweights active, with that type record or experience.
It does look like Joshua's up and coming fights, objectively will not be at World level. I don't class Whyte as World level fighter, Whyte is probably right now High End European level etc.
Note: Joshua skill for skill fought very well vs Usyk. Joshua basically nearly beat Usyk at his own game. It is official, Anthony Joshua is a quite capable fighter at boxing from mid-long range, nobody can deny that. But for me, if Joshua had a more developed inside game, combined with rough house skills and the ability to fight a good big man fight 'That was the type of fight and tactics, Joshua needed to use in order to beat Usyk'.
The typical big man fight, is the default tactics most great or good super heavyweights use in stylistic match ups. Solid Jab, violence from mid-long range, and then disruption of the opponents offense by wrestling them on the inside and using rough house skills.
Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Kiltschko, and even Tyson Fury all super Heavyweights can all fight the typical big man styled fight.
Lewis & Kiltschko, were exceptional at applying these sort of tactics. Tyson Fury's big man styled fight is not as developed, but it is good. Fury has some of the same traits as Rid**** Bowe in that sense etc.
He outboxed Ruiz because Ruiz was 283.7 lbs potato sack. Peak weight of Fury was 277 lbs in Wilder 3. Do the math.
Also, Ruiz was never elite boxer. He is in brawler category. Joshua's peak boxing was in the Usyk fights. He stole 4 rounds from an elite mover in both fights.
You gotta learn that fighters' performances should be evaluated for his opponents.
Well I saw all those AJ fights and he didn’t look faster then the night he rematches Ruiz in either Usyk fight… I still stand by my opinion that the Joshua who rematches Ruiz, would of beaten usyk
Unless he knows hes next in line & fury vs usyk will on only be a 1 fight affair then wait, until then hrgovic vs joyce, wilder vs ruiz, aj needs an easy confidence builder so joseph parker, tommy fury, or the old dylan whyte then joyce vs hrgovic winner if the belt is 2-3 fights. Dubois vs sanchez
Joshua only committed himself to this style after Ruiz's knockdowns robbed him of his courage. He used to fight fearlessly, as he did against Vladimir, even after being knocked down, he got up and knocked him out. Now he retreats more than he attacks, and fights like a lightweight.
AJ ran from Parker and used Fast Eddies paid off ref to keep him out trouble when things got up close and personal. The signs were already there.
In a rematch Parker flat out irons the starch out of Joshua!
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