Tweet
The fight needs to happen sooner rather than later. We don't need to see them beat up fighters ranked in the 20's, previous HW generation leftovers or guys that failed against Wlad before they fight each other.
I think we wait on big fights for too long rather than letting guys who are clearly on a crash course as rivals simply fight when it's hot. Then depending on how the fight goes, they can have a rematch and make just as much if not more money.
I think all of these delays truly come down to fear of losing. I don't mean in a 'boy scared of a grown man' or 'mouse scared of a cat' type of way. I mean in a 'I know that fight will be tough, and if I lose, I lose my undefeated record, marketability, aura of invincibility and this incredible feeling of being on top of the world, so why should I rush to a fight like that rather than enjoy my fame and fortune the way my promoters are moving me" kind of way. It's more about prolonging a career and making money in a sport that isn't so forgiving when you lose if you have a lot of undefeated hype.
Someone like Broner has already lose multiple times. So I think he's less worried about losing big fights and more about being as controversial and "entertaining" as he can leading up to big fights so he can make money.
Wilder and Joshua have a lot at stake. Wilder loses, he loses all of his mystique. He's flawed, took a while to "catch on" with the public as a serious HW. His title, his undefeated record, size, mouth and knockout ratio are his marketability. If he loses his title, undefeated record, then that is such a huge blow.
Joshua loses, he loses that "thing about him" as this prestigious HW champion on top of the world that has that aura about him being undefeated. His looks, charm, title, Wlad win, marketability, UK support, size and knockouts are his marketability.
To me, Joshua is riding on top for many reasons and the Wlad win simply put him over the top. So losing now would deflate a lot of that. However, of the two, Joshua would be better off after a loss in their fight. He is Hearn's marketing/promotional dream. However, I think Hearn and Joshua feel they have the most, and therefor the most to lose. Wilder loses, he loses his title. Joshua loses, he loses ALL of his titles. So they want as many things to be in their favor in order for the fight to happen.
Wilder is a championship title holder too. And therefor he doesn't want to be treated as "the challenger". He's worked hard too and has a title that he's defended multiple times. He may not have Wlad on his record, but he doesn't want to be treated like some rank #17 up and coming contender. He wants to feel the respect as a champion like AJ.
If AJ wants to truly be at the top without question, he'd want to fight and beat Wilder to unify everything. He beat Wlad. Then beating Wilder would be the pinnacle of all he could dream of accomplishing in Boxing other than going on some crazy, undefeated title defense streak.
Wilder wants this probably because he has less to lose from a numbers perspective and the most to gain.
I think who has the most to lose is a matter of perspective. But they both have the same exact amount to gain. Title of the clear, Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World.
"...Let them fight." - Ken Watanabe
I think we wait on big fights for too long rather than letting guys who are clearly on a crash course as rivals simply fight when it's hot. Then depending on how the fight goes, they can have a rematch and make just as much if not more money.
I think all of these delays truly come down to fear of losing. I don't mean in a 'boy scared of a grown man' or 'mouse scared of a cat' type of way. I mean in a 'I know that fight will be tough, and if I lose, I lose my undefeated record, marketability, aura of invincibility and this incredible feeling of being on top of the world, so why should I rush to a fight like that rather than enjoy my fame and fortune the way my promoters are moving me" kind of way. It's more about prolonging a career and making money in a sport that isn't so forgiving when you lose if you have a lot of undefeated hype.
Someone like Broner has already lose multiple times. So I think he's less worried about losing big fights and more about being as controversial and "entertaining" as he can leading up to big fights so he can make money.
Wilder and Joshua have a lot at stake. Wilder loses, he loses all of his mystique. He's flawed, took a while to "catch on" with the public as a serious HW. His title, his undefeated record, size, mouth and knockout ratio are his marketability. If he loses his title, undefeated record, then that is such a huge blow.
Joshua loses, he loses that "thing about him" as this prestigious HW champion on top of the world that has that aura about him being undefeated. His looks, charm, title, Wlad win, marketability, UK support, size and knockouts are his marketability.
To me, Joshua is riding on top for many reasons and the Wlad win simply put him over the top. So losing now would deflate a lot of that. However, of the two, Joshua would be better off after a loss in their fight. He is Hearn's marketing/promotional dream. However, I think Hearn and Joshua feel they have the most, and therefor the most to lose. Wilder loses, he loses his title. Joshua loses, he loses ALL of his titles. So they want as many things to be in their favor in order for the fight to happen.
Wilder is a championship title holder too. And therefor he doesn't want to be treated as "the challenger". He's worked hard too and has a title that he's defended multiple times. He may not have Wlad on his record, but he doesn't want to be treated like some rank #17 up and coming contender. He wants to feel the respect as a champion like AJ.
If AJ wants to truly be at the top without question, he'd want to fight and beat Wilder to unify everything. He beat Wlad. Then beating Wilder would be the pinnacle of all he could dream of accomplishing in Boxing other than going on some crazy, undefeated title defense streak.
Wilder wants this probably because he has less to lose from a numbers perspective and the most to gain.
I think who has the most to lose is a matter of perspective. But they both have the same exact amount to gain. Title of the clear, Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World.
"...Let them fight." - Ken Watanabe
Comment