Comments Thread For: Joshua: I'll Stand as a Champion, Even If I Have To Give One Up

[Monty Fisto]

Facts......

Sorry to state the bleeding obvious but... Saying "Facts" doesn't turn opinion into fact. The outcome of a future event such as a boxing match is inherently uncertain.

For some reason AJ is shooting his mouth off left, right and centre after saying he wasn't going to chase this fight anymore, he was going to let the fight come to him. It's almost, I suppose, as if he can't let it lie because he really wants the unification.

My two cents is that the prospect of Fury/Wilder III stinks -- if that happens in the summer, that really does seem like an effort to freeze Joshua out of the picture. I suspect, though, that if Fury loses, he might either retire or go back to fighting dogs like Seferi or Schwarz.

I also think Fury has no right to call himself the lineal champ. He held Wlad's belts and defended none of them. Then opted out entirely. Since then he has fought a bunch of non-contenders, got a draw against Wilder and then gone life and death with Otto 'Who he?' Wallin. Not exactly the credentials of the man acclaimed as the world's best heavyweight.

Nor do I agree with the notion that Wilde vs Fury is 1 vs 2 for lineal. When BoxRec has Joshua rated no.1 at HW, how can it possibly be the case that the contention in the sentence prior is a consensus view?

To reiterate my opening comment: People like to say 'facts' and then substitute in opinion or speculation... But these are the facts: Joshua holds the lion's share of the belts. Wilder holds one. Fury holds none. B1tch about it all you want, but those are the actual facts.

[Fire4231]

Good read. I think that Andy caused them to reevaluate the situation. AJ can't be trusted not to do a flop and lose all the titles again, so bust them up and keep one or two titles in reserve.

That’s it bro, when you peel the skin of the potato there is always something being hashed. Big business and sure profits are threatening boxing again. Matchroom *****g its own interests above the sport.

[joe strong]

Your right there is a plan afoot....

This is getting mentioned too often now with even AJ mentioning he is not worried about giving up a belt. There is a plan afoot for AJ not to have all his belts in one basket as the saying goes.
Fight Pulev...yes.........
Give up WBO to Usyk v another Hearn Heavy Weight (keeps it in matchroom).
AJ take Wilder or Fury Fight if no third fight between them: Now this stops Wilder/Fury from getting all the belts. AJ will always have option of going back to Usyk or whoever has the WBO later. AJ can have second fight with Wilder/Fury and then go back to the WBO holder: Or if he is waiting on Wilder/Fury III then he can fight Usyk or whoever for the WBO belt as a unification and much bigger fight. If AJ loses those fights Wilder and Fury still have to go back to match-room to get the WBO. In essence it makes it harder for Wilder and Fury to get their hands on all the belts. Hearn is building a big stable of top heavies and by having the WBO separate from AJ he can keep his other Heavies happy. Also AJ will be more willing to split 50/50 with Wilder/Fury with less belts. I can see the WBO going from AJ it takes pressure off him and gives him more options for big future fights.

Don King did this all the time. At one point he had Lennox’s discarded belt he vacated & John Ruiz held the title. After the Holyfield trilogy he defended against guys in his stable like Golota, Oquendo, McCline & Rahman. Same thing with Byrd. Byrd defended against his stablemates too. Lamon Brewster defences against Meehan, Golota & Liahkovich. All King fighters. Hearn could very well do the same thing. He has Joshua, Whyte, Parker, Hunter, Povetkin, Chisora, Usyk, hughie Fury & Parker to all fight in house if he wants.

[sportbuddha]

Yeah, well if Wilder suddenly jumps at the chance to unify against someone other than Joshua for much less money than that fight...the evidence of ducking is then irrefutable.

[VislorTurlough]

AJ needs an oil can. Like every thing he says is a canned emotionless cliche. Most boring name fighter in memory. Makes the Klitschkos look like the life of the party

[MulaKO]

Your right there is a plan afoot....

This is getting mentioned too often now with even AJ mentioning he is not worried about giving up a belt. There is a plan afoot for AJ not to have all his belts in one basket as the saying goes.
Fight Pulev...yes.........
Give up WBO to Usyk v another Hearn Heavy Weight (keeps it in matchroom).
AJ take Wilder or Fury Fight if no third fight between them: Now this stops Wilder/Fury from getting all the belts. AJ will always have option of going back to Usyk or whoever has the WBO later. AJ can have second fight with Wilder/Fury and then go back to the WBO holder: Or if he is waiting on Wilder/Fury III then he can fight Usyk or whoever for the WBO belt as a unification and much bigger fight. If AJ loses those fights Wilder and Fury still have to go back to match-room to get the WBO. In essence it makes it harder for Wilder and Fury to get their hands on all the belts. Hearn is building a big stable of top heavies and by having the WBO separate from AJ he can keep his other Heavies happy. Also AJ will be more willing to split 50/50 with Wilder/Fury with less belts. I can see the WBO going from AJ it takes pressure off him and gives him more options for big future fights.

Shhhhhhhhh
Don’t let the cat out of the bag
The platform/promoter fans might attack you
You crazy talking like that

[CJFRENCH]

Your right and there is a reason for it.

Honestly speaking , he does not have to drop any belts
WBO comes first and the IBF is second
Follow the rotation , that was installed by the sanctioning bodies , and nobody gets hurt

But sorry to say , if AJ does drop one of the belts , without a legitimate reason , well then I’m lead to believe some chit is happening behind the scenes

Your right there is a plan afoot....

This is getting mentioned too often now with even AJ mentioning he is not worried about giving up a belt. There is a plan afoot for AJ not to have all his belts in one basket as the saying goes.
Fight Pulev...yes.........
Give up WBO to Usyk v another Hearn Heavy Weight (keeps it in matchroom).
AJ take Wilder or Fury Fight if no third fight between them: Now this stops Wilder/Fury from getting all the belts. AJ will always have option of going back to Usyk or whoever has the WBO later. AJ can have second fight with Wilder/Fury and then go back to the WBO holder: Or if he is waiting on Wilder/Fury III then he can fight Usyk or whoever for the WBO belt as a unification and much bigger fight. If AJ loses those fights Wilder and Fury still have to go back to match-room to get the WBO. In essence it makes it harder for Wilder and Fury to get their hands on all the belts. Hearn is building a big stable of top heavies and by having the WBO separate from AJ he can keep his other Heavies happy. Also AJ will be more willing to split 50/50 with Wilder/Fury with less belts. I can see the WBO going from AJ it takes pressure off him and gives him more options for big future fights.

[Corelone]

It’s this a su****ious set of events, AJ gets knocked out and looks vulnerable. Usyk looks terrible in his heavyweight debut.

However an in-house rivalry between the two Matchroom fighters occurs. Now AJ has to give up one of his belts su****iously to his stable mate. No request to keep the belt to satisfy the other Mandy. Something we have seen happen in the past.

What’s the motive? To ensure Matchroom diversifies it’s heavyweight champion interest at a time when their flag ship doesn’t look durable.

If not for a rematch clause those belts were lost to another promotional company. So yes it feels very dubious that magically they get split between Matchroom fighters.

You are right bots, there is nothing to see here. No way Hearn has control over the WBO and the IBF despite seeing the mandatories flip repeatedly in Matchrooms favor. Now all AJ’s energy has turned to no ones dream match a fight between AJ and Usyk? This is garbage. And either AJ wants to retire or he can’t see Usyk is his replacement.

These sanctioning bodies are all puppets for paydays. Not sure how much longer we will even have a sport. Just divided promotional en****** with their own belts, electing fighters based on popularity and keeping them safe in not at all compelling matchups. Cheer on that card board champion. Why should he have to ever actually be the best?

Good read. I think that Andy caused them to reevaluate the situation. AJ can't be trusted not to do a flop and lose all the titles again, so bust them up and keep one or two titles in reserve.

[PRINCEKOOL]

I am sure EVERY single organisation wants Anthony Joshua as their champion 'If he really wanted to, he could keep all of his belts'.

[zaheer]

Beating the best in the division make you a champion. Not ***ellery and belts Eddie bought for you.

Clear champion will emerge when the top 2 guys fight it out in feb.

AJ can stick 2 fighting old men and obese non training midget Mexicans.

last time i checked it was wilder fightin old men (ortiz) and doing it badly