Wladimir Klitschko: Joshua has one of the greatest potentials I have ever seen

[Elroy1]

Well here you decide to look after quality and not quantity. AJ took to boxing like a baby duckling takes to water.

Double ABA champion, world championship silver medalist and Olympic champion - many even felt he should have won the world championsship as well! He was ranked #3 and upwards in the world from 21 years of age in the super heavyweight division and won title after title.

He's still not the finished article, and definitely has some things to work with of course, but he's doing that and imo has been good strides in his first year as a pro.

Ps. Mike Tyson's amateur record is 48-6, Larry Holmes and Joe Frazier also had few amateur fights, same with George Foreman.

I know it's different times now, but it's quite rare for a western heavyweight as many fights as the eastern fighters have, because the schools are so vastly different.

Actually I do agree with you in one of those rare moments LacedUp.

I do stand by my given opinions to an extent of course but the other side of the coin is also relevant for Joshua too.

I think he is basically assured to win titles.

I would also be hesitant before I would declare him the next Lennox or Klit analog, all 3 of which I must remind you came from excellent pedigree's.

East Euro's of the post Soviet generation would obviously have larger ammy backgrounds than Western counterparts of course, that's given. That time is finished about now though. The young Slavic boxers now never knew socialism.

[D-MiZe]

How many other fighters has Wlad seen doe?

The problem with Joshua too is that he's regressing physically, sure he's packing on muscle but at the cost of fluidity. Which was one of his main assets as an amateur.

Price was a bit different. He didn't have the amateur pedigree but he certainly had power and the physical tools to become a champion. Even from his first professional fight it was evident that his chin was going to be a problem. It's a damn shame he doesn't have a chin like McCall 'cause he throws in combination and goes to the body so well for someone his size.

Apart from Joshua, who else is coming through at heavyweight?

[- Ram Raid -]

After watching the link my initial thought was "How can this be the topic of the thread when the A-Force is making a comeback!?!" . . . . The Return of the King!!

All sarcasm aside, it's impossible to foresee what can be accomplished with years of passion, toil and training. After all, Charley Goldman famously told Marciano on first viewing, "If you done anything right, I didn't see it."

Micheal Jordan was cut by his high school varsity team. North Carolina State didn't want him. The first two NBA teams that could have drafted him didn't. Because they were all looking for talent, not potential, and as Joshua said in that clip, it's all about potential.

And this young man has got it by the bucket load. He's a completely different animal to David Price. Physically we can compare them but mentally (and I don't say this to right Price off because it can be developed) they might as well be a different species.

Anthony Joshua displays the mindset of a champion. He'll never be the finished article because I don't see him ever becoming complacent enough to believe that he is. He's got a pinpoint focus on learning and development.

If he can maintain that throughout his career it won't make much difference if any physical disadvantages do come to light. Just like it didn't with Wladimir.

[Weltschmerz]

Apart from Joshua, who else is coming through at heavyweight?

Of younger guys there are Andy Ruiz, Mike Perez, the Joseph Parker kid. I would say Perez is the most promising other than the most common known in Wilder, Fury, etc.

[Box Up!]

I am not sold on Joshua hes a bit Bruno esque minus the power.

Almost a big, sluggish version of Kell Brook.
Then again its probably all that is needed to exceed in what is truly a pathetically weak HW scene. I mean look at Wilder & how far size, power and some careful matchmaking can take you.
Be interesting to see how he develops but as of right now I don't see 'great' potential.

To be fair tho, no one cares what a little batty boy like you thinks. I'm with the champ, AJ has the skills.

I suggest next time YOU decide to voice an opinion, you do so in front of the mirror because NO ONE cares what YOU think, batty boy.

[LacedUp]

How many other fighters has Wlad seen doe?

The problem with Joshua too is that he's regressing physically, sure he's packing on muscle but at the cost of fluidity. Which was one of his main assets as an amateur.

Price was a bit different. He didn't have the amateur pedigree but he certainly had power and the physical tools to become a champion. Even from his first professional fight it was evident that his chin was going to be a problem. It's a damn shame he doesn't have a chin like McCall 'cause he throws in combination and goes to the body so well for someone his size.

Apart from Joshua, who else is coming through at heavyweight?

Wladimir has had a good few of the up and comers in his camp, incl. Whyte, Fury and Wilder. He's out in America with Banks and previously worked with Manny Steward obviously, who was very informed about the amateurs around the world. Plus, he's been world champ for 10 years so I'm sure he knows a talent when he sees one.

Regards to the fluidity, I've seen him improve on that in his last couple of fights. He's moved better in his last fight and against Skelton, to a point where he's not as square and so his positioning then enables him to get his shots off with more power and better accuracy. He's also developed his punches i.e. the uppercut and left hook have looked sickening lately.

He's gained about 10 lbs since his first amateur fight - I think he was 242 in his last fight and was 233 in his debut or something like that - but I feel his fighting weight will probably be between 245-250 when he's fully grown into his body.

Price might have more one-punch power than Joshua, maybe. I'm not convinced but it's not out of the question, but I would say Joshua has the better skills, movement, ring intelligence and everything else.

[LacedUp]

Of younger guys there are Andy Ruiz, Mike Perez, the Joseph Parker kid. I would say Perez is the most promising other than the most common known in Wilder, Fury, etc.

Mike Perez will never amount to anything other than what he is now.

He doesn't have the mental strength to stay in shape between fights, and doesn't even take training camps as serious as he should.

A shame that a decent talent will go to waste, but I can't see him get to a higher level than where he's now.

[LacedUp]

To be fair tho, no one cares what a little batty boy like you thinks. I'm with the champ, AJ has the skills.

I suggest next time YOU decide to voice an opinion, you do so in front of the mirror because NO ONE cares what YOU think, batty boy.

I actually care what he thinks.

I doubt anyone cares what you think though.

[removed]

To be fair tho, no one cares what a little batty boy like you thinks. I'm with the champ, AJ has the skills.

I suggest next time YOU decide to voice an opinion, you do so in front of the mirror because NO ONE cares what YOU think, batty boy.

Sure they do, he's a good poster. You however, are a complete bellend.

Now, do us all a favour and **** off, and take your ******ed, unfunny threads with you.

[D-MiZe]

Of younger guys there are Andy Ruiz, Mike Perez, the Joseph Parker kid. I would say Perez is the most promising other than the most common known in Wilder, Fury, etc.

Perez is 29 this year. I was thinking more of who'll be around in say 5 years or so when Joshua is 29. Parker is the only youngster (24 or younger) that I could think of. I forgot about Ruiz, I rate him.


@Laced: Joshua is definitely a lot better than Price in a lot of categories. I'd say Price has the edge power wise, his jab and straight right are sickening at times. The main problem with Price apart from his punch resistance and movement is his mentality. I don't think he gasses early because of his stamina, I think he becomes really anxious about being hit.

We'll have to see how Joshua does against better opposition. I can already see that he has a good boxing brain, I just hope his brain doesn't say one thing and his body does another 'cause he's too muscular to react quick enough.

I did have an interesting thought last night about Wlad being a trainer after retiring. I view him as one now after the departure of Steward. I don't really know much about Banks but Steward's teachings are second nature to Wlad now.

How'd Whyte managed to get involved with 'em? Good to see British fighters venturing out of da Shire too.