Anthony Joshua and Matchroom

[JohnP2]

I started thinking....is AJ the most protected heavyweight in history? I come from the early 70's, and he's hands down the most protected I've seen since then. Anyone before?

[FaustoGeraci]

He is. I like him too. It’s his promoter and he’s a yes man

[JohnP2]

He is. I like him too. It’s his promoter and he’s a yes man

Agreed. I think for the most part, all he has left is "AJ fans". Boxing fans are starting to get restless with his ducking and dodging...regardless of whose calling the shots.

[MASTERBX]

I think he really believes he's part of the Hearns family and they have his best interest at heart.

[Scipio2009]

Folks are projecting this on Joshua largely due to his promoter talking outta line

If Eddie Hearn had simply said "we like the Wilder fight, its a massive fight, but we want to get this Povetkin mandatory out of the way first", Joshua would simply be looked at as what he is.

2012 Olympic gold medalist, ticked through the usual UK levels (Commonwealth, British champion, picked up the WBC international, and was likely heading towards the European title), got the chance to fluke into getting the IBF heavyweight title due to things out of his control ('Czar' Glazkov, the IBF's #1 challenger and clear favorite, blowing out his knee without even being touched, tbh, wasn't the plan, even after the Fury breakdown made the belts vacant), made two defenses against heavyweights that were better than Charles Martin [note that the 6 fights prior were all at 20k-seat arenas], made the move to stadiums in fighting a fading Wladimir Klitschko (which, in all honesty, shouldn't have have the WBA/IBO connected to it anyway), was supposed to be a big step-up from Molina/Breazeale with a Kubrat Pulev fight (which basically ended up being an on par fight with Takam), then fought Joseph Parker (who was basically par with Takam; ignore the WBO nonsense), and is now set to fight a possibly fading Alexander Povetkin.

You ignore the Klitschko fight (after the stinker that the Fury fight was, who knew that Klitschko had THAT left), and set aside the money that he draws, and Anthony Joshua is basically where Deontay Wilder was before the Luis Ortiz fight; 5 solid defenses of his vacant won title, passing every test put in front of him, set to face a cagey guy, who's fought great at the top level, who still seems to be fight sharp.

A really good, young heavyweight fighter, who has flashed that he might end up being a special heavyweight, who still needs to prove it in the ring.

[Redd Foxx]

Hearn has been too protective and it's tarnished AJ's image. Funny that he fought so damn hard to get his way out blew up in his face.

[Boksfan]

Beyontay Wildher is just a baby, he's not ready to fight real opponent yet WBC protection program

[Hatesrats]

AJ is a KO waiting to happen & Hearn knows this.

[FaustoGeraci]

Beyontay Wildher is just a baby, he's not ready to fight real opponent yet WBC protection program

All really good posts here. Until this weird garbage

[Madison Boxing]

Yeah that's why he's fought klitschko white Parker takam povetkin and signed for pulev within 21 fights. Who had wilder fought in his first 21 fights?