Joshua's Legacy Forever Tainted

[davefromvancouv]

Joshua's legacy hasn't been tarnished, but more and more people are starting to realize how he became rated as the number 1 heavyweight in the world. Like most fighters (including Wilder), he was strategically steered away from dangerous fights. Instead of staying in the WBC and fighting Povetkin for a chance to fight Wilder, he chose an easier path picking up the Fury belts. The Joshua-Klitschko scrap was a great fight, but Klitschko was supposed to be shot when Joshua fought him. A different version of Klitschko showed up, took him into deep waters and instantly catapulted Joshua to superstar status.

However, since then, Joshua has looked less than stellar. He's still one of the top three heavyweights in the world, but now that he's unified against Martin, Klitschko and Parker, the pressure will be mounting for him to either fight Fury or finally take on the one champion he avoided (twice) during his impressive pro run. Should happen in 2020 after fighting a much older version of Povetkin, and satisfying the WBO and IBF mandatories with Whyte and Pulev.

[b00g13man]

Joshua's legacy hasn't been tarnished, but more and more people are starting to realize how he became rated as the number 1 heavyweight in the world. Like most fighters (including Wilder), he was strategically steered away from dangerous fights. Instead of staying in the WBC and fighting Povetkin for a chance to fight Wilder, he chose an easier path picking up the Fury belts. The Joshua-Klitschko scrap was a great fight, but Klitschko was supposed to be shot when Joshua fought him. A different version of Klitschko showed up, took him into deep waters and instantly catapulted Joshua to superstar status.

However, since then, Joshua has looked less than stellar. He's still one of the top three heavyweights in the world, but now that he's unified against Martin, Klitschko and Parker, the pressure will be mounting for him to either fight Fury or finally take on the one champion he avoided (twice) during his impressive pro run. Should happen in 2020 after fighting a much older version of Povetkin, and satisfying the WBO and IBF mandatories with Whyte and Pulev.

This is simply not true. There's only one fight he's shied away from, and that's Wilder. He's fought absolutely everyone else.

[The Big Dunn]

This is simply not true. There's only one fight he's shied away from, and that's Wilder. He's fought absolutely everyone else.

Yeah. AJ doesn't get criticized for anything other than the BS surrounding the Wilder fight. Otherwise, you can't take anything away from who he fought.

[Boxing56]

Not really. This thing with Wilder hasn't made him look good but he still has a much better resume than Wilder.

[b00g13man]

Yeah. AJ doesn't get criticized for anything other than the BS surrounding the Wilder fight. Otherwise, you can't take anything away from who he fought.

Yep. There's no need to make stuff up.

[davefromvancouv]

This is simply not true. There's only one fight he's shied away from, and that's Wilder. He's fought absolutely everyone else.

Joshua was steered clear of Wilder TWICE. The first time was understandable because Wilder was the only champion around and Joshua was still an up and comer. But yes, I agree, still a great run... Just not good enough yet for Wilder...

[GhostofDempsey]

The guy has only had about 20 fights, WTF are you smoking?

[mrlopez]

Joshua was steered clear of Wilder TWICE. The first time was understandable because Wilder was the only champion around and Joshua was still an up and comer. But yes, I agree, still a great run... Just not good enough yet for Wilder...

So Wilder, with 40 fights and OBVIOUSLY no unifications wasnt steered clear of dangerous fights? He couldve fought Fury, Klitschko, etc.

[Raggamuffin]

Right now he can still fight Wilder, but Mr Johnson is seen as listening to his ****** promoter and trying to age Wilder and not respecting Wilder. And boxers and boxing fans world wide know that he's scared of Wilder. That's why he gets no respect until he fights Wilder.

[Motofan]

What legacy? He went life and death with an old man coming off a shutout loss. He has beaten literally nobody. And before anyone gets worked up, either has Wilder. No legacy's exist for either man.