Joshua is still 5 to 6 fights away from his prime.

[alexguiness]

AJ reached his peak vs Klitsckho.

[sotgoda]

Who f.ucking cares if AJ loses or if Wilder loses its a sport and entertainment its not serious.

But all the excuses why this fight shouldn’t happen from AJ fans is straight b.itch made

Exactly. On one of AJ's recent interviews, he described his fear of losing and the potential impact on him This is part of the problem. Wilder does not seem to have any fear of losing. That confidence is the key differentiator between both of them when push comes to shove.

I think AJ genuinely respects Wilder and would gladly prefer to have more time. But, Eddie has written a check his client's ass cannot cash. AJ will be the bigger, more technical guy, crowd favorite, betting favorite and will still get whooped. No wonder they don't want to fight Wilder.

Wilder seems like everything that should not be in boxing but will whoop the so called everything in boxing. It really will be embarrassing.

[sunny31]

You say 2-3 fights so another 1 1/2 - 2 years the TS said 5-6 fights so 2 1/2 - 3 years

It just comes across as p. Ussy. Never have I seen a fan base claim that their guy is the best while so scared sh. Itless of fighting his biggest threat
The man might have 3/4 of the belts in a couple weeks with in the next year it should be go time no excuses if he wasn’t up for the task he shouldn’t have overpaid Martin for his strap if he still need seasoning

Who f.ucking cares if AJ loses or if Wilder loses its a sport and entertainment its not serious.

But all the excuses why this fight shouldn’t happen from AJ fans is straight b.itch made

OK first off - Joshua hasn't been avoiding that fight, I think everyone can agree on that. The first negotiations happened before Christmas and you sensed with how quickly both teams moved on to other fights that they both felt it was premature, Wilder's 50/50 demand was silly, and Hearn was not much interested at that time in continuing.

As far as the bold - can both things not be true? Can he not be the best currently, but still reluctant to fight a certain fighter or style. To be honest I am not sure if Wilder is his biggest threat, I am not even sure if Joshua is the best. What I do know is - Joshua's defence is improving but still leaky, and that is a recipe for disaster against someone like Wilder. I don't think its a fight that he can't win, I would actually still have my money on Joshua, his shorter crisper punches are more likely to land first, but I would still have it as a 50/50 maybe 60-40.

I think given a scope and time to improve Joshua's chances only go up and Wilder's chances get worse, which is exactly why Wilder's team want the fight asap and why Joshua's people would rather wait. If you take posturing and fronting from both sides (fans included) out of the equation this is the reality of the situation in a nutshell.

[jpowell100]

Joshua also said that he knows he will most likely lose at some stage in his career and it will be all about how he recovers from it. Like the great heavyweights had to recover from losses

[LacedUp]

I really love your confidence. They are not taking the fight next. There will be 1 more fight before. I only wished AJ was half as confident as you are. I don't see anyway AJ beats Wilder. You will have enough time though to prepare your excuses. Won't it be very sad for all the talk to have a "talentless" Wilder beat up AJ? Worse still if Parker beats him first. Better say your prayers...

Who has a proven track record of stepping up consistently and who has been fighting bums for 39 straight fights?

[////]

his prime is going to be very short. guys on that much juice/that much bulk fall to pieces with no warning. seen it a hundred times.

[R_Walken]

OK first off - Joshua hasn't been avoiding that fight, I think everyone can agree on that. The first negotiations happened before Christmas and you sensed with how quickly both teams moved on to other fights that they both felt it was premature, Wilder's 50/50 demand was silly, and Hearn was not much interested at that time in continuing.

As far as the bold - can both things not be true? Can he not be the best currently, but still reluctant to fight a certain fighter or style. To be honest I am not sure if Wilder is his biggest threat, I am not even sure if Joshua is the best. What I do know is - Joshua's defence is improving but still leaky, and that is a recipe for disaster against someone like Wilder. I don't think its a fight that he can't win, I would actually still have my money on Joshua, his shorter crisper punches are more likely to land first, but I would still have it as a 50/50 maybe 60-40.

I think given a scope and time to improve Joshua's chances only go up and Wilder's chances get worse, which is exactly why Wilder's team want the fight asap and why Joshua's people would rather wait. If you take posturing and fronting from both sides (fans included) out of the equation this is the reality of the situation in a nutshell.

AJ is a fighter and would fight anyone but Hearn is delaying as long as possible because it’s AJ riskiest fight

No both can’t be true you can collect potentially 3/4 of all the belts and be most peoples #1 and at the same timeclaim that you need more time

F.uck that

Your right it could go either way and AJ probably
Could still improve ( moving his head ) but both are undeafted and the time for the fight is now like within the next year not when AJ has the best chance to win

That’s such a cowardly view to have as a fan

[A.K]

Once again with this logic lomachenko won’t reach his prime till another 4 years.

[Holler]

It's true that AJ is yet to peak and should be stronger with a few more elite level wins. I think he'd fight Wilder tomorrow however if he gets the deal he wants. If that fight goes his way it could raise his already high status into the stratosphere. Which is why I think Wilder is the one that will have to compromise.

If Joshua beats Parker then on April 1st Wilder, Finkel et al have a choice to make. They can make the fight on Eddie Hearn and Anthony Joshua's terms, which will involve a smaller share than they'd like, or they can refuse and go to the media claiming that AJ is ducking Deontay.

If they take the second option Hearn will move ahead with:

Povetkin mandatory defence of WBA - huge European fight

Big Baby Miller - AJ's first appearance in the US, chance to build his profile there and links with US networks, sponsors and venues

Domestic cash in money spinner option, should Haye beat Bellew convincingly this would make big money in UK, whatever the reality of Haye's current status. Or Whyte 2 if Wilder chooses Brezeale for his defence.

Insert WBO/IBF next contender mandatory - Pulev?

By which time Tyson Fury may be a player once more...

AJ makes massive amounts on all those fights and he keeps on adding sponsors and building his brand. Wilder can show up at each event and each time be given a copy of the contract Eddie Hearn has drafted for him. They can say, the money and belts are on the table, all Wilder has to do is sign.

Deontay Wilder will be 33 in October. He makes perhaps 20% at best per fight than AJ takes. The top heavyweights in the division want to fight AJ over him. He has a decision to make.

[Eff Pandas]

Fight number whatever don't matter. Thats silly to suggest that.

Its age. And HW's tend to reach their peaks later so I think he's a few years from reaching his peak.

But the reality is there is no hard & fast rule with this only averages. Mfers have fights that change them & can f#ck up their trajectory completely & there out of the ring things going on & all sorts of variables in play.

Its ENTIRELY possible we've seen the best Joshua. I wouldn't bet on it, but its possible. Its entirely possible we don't see the best Joshua til he's 33yrs old in 2023 & 32+ fights into his career. And I might throw some money on that one.