Comments Thread For: Anthony Joshua Waiting on Verdict From IBF Before Choosing September Foe

[Boxviewer]

What contenders are there though? Joshua, who he's beaten twice. Dubois, who he stopped. Parker, who lost to twice-beaten Joshua. Hrgovic, who was stopped by Dubois, and should have a loss to Zhang. Zhang, who lost to Parker.

Kabayel is the only undefeated guy in title contention right now. And Fury, as much as I dislike him, is still the next highest ranked guy.

He's fighting Fury next and Kabayel isn't their yet, being undefeated doesn't say anything, he hasn't faced the top guys yet. As it stands at the moment Usyk is #1, Fury #2 and AJ #3. And DDD is his IBF mandatory. So, it doesn't matter whether he's beaten the top 4 already because they have earned their position and so the right to challenge him again.

[Toffee]

Huh ? He stopped Wilder. What more do you want ?

Is that some kind of legendary achievement?

They were both terrible until he clipped Wilder. The hype around Zhang is very overstated.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Hah, how could I forget that Parker 'loss'

I agree the DDD fight is the one I most like to see, but if the IBF is not on the line, then I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him face Parker.

Interim belt too and his style is less come forward, so suits AJ better.

Yeah Parker is the safer fight, even though he’s arguably a better fighter than Dubois.

Confidence is key with AJ, he’s already dealt with Parker and beat him quite comfortably too. Dubois brings the unknown. I’d favour Joshua against both but Dubois is the more dangerous and interesting fight.

[crimsonfalcon07]

My point still remains. Tying up the belts because of a rematch clause BEFORE the first fight is not good for boxing.
Heck being undisputed and owning multiple belts brings with it mandatory obligations whether we like it or not.

Its easy to say "What contenders are there though" and I am pretty sure unless given the chance fighters like Kabayel would not have been on anyone's radar.
A motivated Andy Ruiz is a dangerous fight for anyone in the division. Getting a title shot has never been based on whether you were undefeated.

Belts are not anyone's private property. You win them, you assume the obligation to defend them and not hold them hostage while d1cking around with a rematch!!!

No, your point doesn't stand. The whole point of mandatories is to fight the best available competition and make the best fights. We've already seen AJ lose twice, and Dubois lost every minute of the fight that he wasn't punching Usyk in the nuts. He's maybe reinvented himself some, and I'll be more onboard if he beats Parker, AJ, or Kabayel.

But let's be real. IBF rankings are nonsense. He hasn't "earned" squat. How does he get into an immediate title eliminator coming off a loss to the champ and a win over a guy who wasn't ranked in the top 10? IBF rankings are some of the worst no matter what division you're looking at.

I am on record saying that rematch clauses are a stain. But this one deserves a rematch, and it's pretty clearly a better fight than a trilogy with AJ or DD again. It should be abundantly clear that DD isn't on the level. If you think either of those fights are better than a Fury rematch, there's nothing more to say to you. I'd like to see Usyk stop Fury and move on. He likely will vacate the titles anyways to seek undisputed at cruiserweight again, and Dubois can be email champ.

[naranja111]

I hope Frank can get his boy DDD to step aside so the IBF will be part of undisputed one last time

[slimPickings]

No, your point doesn't stand. The whole point of mandatories is to fight the best available competition and make the best fights. We've already seen AJ lose twice, and Dubois lost every minute of the fight that he wasn't punching Usyk in the nuts. He's maybe reinvented himself some, and I'll be more onboard if he beats Parker, AJ, or Kabayel.

But let's be real. IBF rankings are nonsense. He hasn't "earned" squat. How does he get into an immediate title eliminator coming off a loss to the champ and a win over a guy who wasn't ranked in the top 10? IBF rankings are some of the worst no matter what division you're looking at.

I am on record saying that rematch clauses are a stain. But this one deserves a rematch, and it's pretty clearly a better fight than a trilogy with AJ or DD again. It should be abundantly clear that DD isn't on the level. If you think either of those fights are better than a Fury rematch, there's nothing more to say to you. I'd like to see Usyk stop Fury and move on. He likely will vacate the titles anyways to seek undisputed at cruiserweight again, and Dubois can be email champ.

Usyk and Fury can have their rematch, trilogy , 4th, 5th and etc etc, fight all they want AS LONG AS the belt/s are not held hostage.

Last time I saw a fighter consistently hit another fighter in the nuts was Golota v Bowe. Usyk played that "low blow" to the hilt and got away with it at home. Ref even pleaded with him to take a nap!! More power to him.

[Boxviewer]

I am afraid you are right. The one thing I can say about the IBF is that they are very stringent and a stickler for their mandatory bouts.

They are not as flexible as other sanctioning bodies like the WBC or the WBA. Just look how they stripped both Canelo and Golovkin for not defending their mandatories.

Hell, they even stripped Terence Crawford of his title. For not consenting with them first about an alleged rematch clause against Errol Spence, Jr.

My advice is that I strongly recommend in the future; That promoters should first check and get prior approval from the IBF first.

Especially before deciding to put rematch clauses for undisputed bouts in their fighter’s contracts.

Promoter are very aware of the IBF rules but they choose to ignore because their main objective is to make as much money as possible. The so call boxing fans are even making things worse by siding with promoters when it concerns their favourite fighters. It's the same dishonest folks call Matchroom rematchroom. Hypocrites.

I applaud IBF for their strictness.

I have praised Usyk for his accomplishments but he must not hold up others who deserve their shot. If not for AJ honouring his mandatory obligation towards him he wouldn't have gotten the opportunity to be the undisputed champion now.

[soul_survivor]

He'll go for the old, tired Chinaman and try to follow Parker's blueprint without getting knocked down cos if he does it probably won't end well for him.

I doubt he wants to face the resurgent Oilskin Parker or the confident young Doobie.

And as for how he gets first dibs at the Fury/Usyk eventual winner, put that down to the desert Turkis infatuation and Fast Eddies bumlicking.

Nonsense.

AJ has said all along, if the a belt is on the line he'll go for that. If IBF does not allow for Dubois to be their champ and he stays as interim then AJ will fight the guy who brings the most monetary value along with the best match up .That probably is Zhang for now. Then he will be in line for an Usyk rematch anyway.

[pollywog]

Nonsense.

AJ has said all along, if the a belt is on the line he'll go for that. If IBF does not allow for Dubois to be their champ and he stays as interim then AJ will fight the guy who brings the most monetary value along with the best match up .That probably is Zhang for now. Then he will be in line for an Usyk rematch anyway.

The IBF and WBO belts are as good as on the line by fighting Parker or Dubois but he's clucking and quacking because they ain't no joke now.

Zhang is old, tired and offers the least risk and money but the easiest win just by running around the ring for 12 rounds and avoiding getting clipped by a shot he doesn't see.

He also hasnt done shït to warrant a third fight against Usyk regardless of whether he beats Zhang. And then there is the inevitable rematch clause he needs with all his fights.

It wouldn't surprise me to see him duck any contender and choose to crush another can. At this stage AJ is the joke.

[soul_survivor]

The IBF and WBO belts are as good as on the line by fighting Parker or Dubois but he's clucking and quacking because they ain't no joke now.

Zhang is old, tired and offers the least risk and money but the easiest win just by running around the ring for 12 rounds and avoiding getting clipped by a shot he doesn't see.

He also hasnt done shït to warrant a third fight against Usyk regardless of whether he beats Zhang. And then there is the inevitable rematch clause he needs with all his fights.

It wouldn't surprise me to see him duck any contender and choose to crush another can. At this stage AJ is the joke.

Who told you IBF and WBO will be on the line?

Usyk just had his extension approved with the IBF and Dubois aint even WBO interim.

You dont know *******