Comments Thread For: Derrick James on Anthony Joshua: 'You'll See a Different Guy'

[Toffee]

So Wilder is a very strong favorite for their potential fight, just look at the responses in this thread.

All I know is? That Joshua is a more proven fighter capable of winning in mega fights.

Olympic Gold Medalist, Wladimir Kiltschko, Ruiz Junior rematch 'And regardless of how people mock his performances vs Usyk, Joshua was not ****** out and did put in a good effort during both fights' etc.

Styles make fights... but on pedigree and recent form in the ring I'd rate Joshua as favourite against Wilder. Hard to judge much in losing efforts, but his fights against Usyk were at a very high level. He's still technically pretty sound.

A boxer puncher against a puncher with limited skills? I choose the boxer puncher.

[Rebelrbg]

I think that we will see significant progress in Joshua after being in camp with Spence for Crawford, and Jermell for Tszyu. I hope he gets to show those improvements before he fights Wilder, because fighting Deontay is a lot different from fighting anyone else. In that fight, even Fury had to change his style in order to assure himself the win, he went from a boxer in the first fight and almost not surviving, to a mauler and dirty tactics, which l don't have a problem with if the referee allowed it, and dominated. Joshua may not be able to display his level of progress against someone as awkward and dangerous as Wilder.

[slim hudson]

one clean right from birdlegs will end aj's career

[deathofaclown]

Well he has to say that doesn't he?

Truth is AJ is too timid in the ring now. he and his trainers can say what they want but once things get on top and its time to go for broke, he will revert to his timid self. He is just not willing to bite down and leave it all in the ring anymore.

[TreD]

There's no shame in retiring, especially considering the money AJ's made. And, he could probably become a promoter. No one needs to get punched in the head forever.

[joe strong]

Sure he doesn’t seem as aggressive as before but I can’t write off a 2 time HW champion that has a decent resume. He is only 33 so there is still some time left for another run but Fury & Wilder are fights he must make before he retires.

[baroidi]

Joshua's problem is more mental than physical, and James ain't no sports pysch. Joshua's next opponent should get someone in the front seats holding up a giant Fat Ruiz jr poster, Joshua will have horrible flashbacks.

[Boxviewer]

Is James trying to talk himself and his fighter into reality?
As soon as he steps in the ring, Joshua šhits himself.

Didn't he win every round of that fight? He fought that fight according to plan. You can't compare AJ vs Franklin with Whyte vs Franklin. If AJ was struggling vs Franklin like Whyte did then people can say that he's past his prime. He boxed Franklin and dominated him.

[Wacked_Out]

I expect Aj to ignore James and teach himself the shoulder roll instead. It would better suit his new defensive mindset. It wont work of course so he'll fire James and hire Mayweather for the next fight. That's my prediction.

[PRINCEKOOL]

Styles make fights... but on pedigree and recent form in the ring I'd rate Joshua as favourite against Wilder. Hard to judge much in losing efforts, but his fights against Usyk were at a very high level. He's still technically pretty sound.

A boxer puncher against a puncher with limited skills? I choose the boxer puncher.

For me it is just a question of? Can Joshua come through Wilder's power?

If Joshua can come through Wilder's power, that in itself will inflict damage of Wilder.

Deep down I think Wilder, is not so certain about his power 'Not like he used to be'.

Wilder really should of beaten Fury in their 3rd fight. Not because he is a better fighter.

I just think Fury was making multiple unforced errors in that particular fight 'That other all-time great punchers for me, would of punished severely'.

I watched Fury for no apparent reason, early on in the fight vs Wilder 'Square up to Wilder, and open the front door. This unforced technical error is what lead to Fury being decked'.

If only Wilder had more variation on his punches, he should of then at-least decked Fury once again badly 'Or ****** Fury out'. Any all-time great offensive fighter in that moment for me would of ****** Fury out during that round.

Great fight in terms of passion and competitiveness, but skill for skill it was not a high level fight.

Yes Joshua vs Usyk I & especially II was a high level fight skill for skill. The only thing Joshua can really be criticized for in both of those fights is 'Not throwing caution to the wind, or making it a rough house fight. But in retrospect now looking back, why were people so sure it would be as simply to just wade forward vs Usyk? NOW I honestly don't think people giving that advice, were really analyzing Usyk as a challenged in-depth 'They were just giving cliche type advice'.

When Federer would play Djokovic, and he would SOMETIMES lose. It was not because he played a bad tennis match 'He just got beat'. Joshua vs Usyk II, was pretty much the same situation. There were very few unforced errors in the fight from both fighters.

I believe Joshua can beat Wilder in multiple ways. I am not buying into this narrative that he has to walk forward 'And use the same tactics as Fury'.

I personally think Fury had to fight Wilder that way in their last two fights 'Because Fury is innately a clumsy fighter. Fury tried to out box Wilder during the first fight, and was backed up all night and decked twice once badly'. Fury did not win the fight, his boxing skills and long range game were not effective enough 'They are the facts'.

Joshua technically and fundamentally, is a more technically sound fighter than Fury. People may mock Joshua, and call him all these things 'Static, stiff, the list goes on'.

But outside of Fury & Usyk, Joshua is the most proven pure boxer in the Heavyweight Division 'At World level'.

On a board spectrum there is a debate that Joshua has been tested more than both Fury & Usyk 'Because out of those three fighters, Joshua has fought a higher number of World level fighters at Heavyweight'.

Note: I have not picked a winner of the fight. Because during the build up to big fights, sometimes I prefer to go through the process of building a case or theory for both fighters winning 'Joshua's case and theory seems to right now have more depth than Wilder's'.

But I will be honest, Wilder's power and aggression is a serious threat 'I rate Wilder very highly as a fighter within this era of Heavyweights'. And at some point in the fight, Joshua is most likely going to be whacked 'How Joshua reacts and behaves in that situation will be a defining moment of the fight'.

Sometimes power can take a fighter off their tactics and game plan. Wilder to his credit 'Never deviates from his default tactics, even if he is dropping rounds or being beaten up'. Nobody not even Tyson Fury was able to make Wilder deviate from his default settings and instincts as a fighter.

Joshua for me has to come with that same level of staying power on his tactics 'Even when being whacked' Joshua has to come through the power etc.