AJ put on a good performance, respect!

[Dakuwaqa]

I’m going to have to watch the fight again. Last night I felt like AJ looked worse than in the Ruiz rematch. I know he got the KDs etc.

To me he looked nervous all fight, was way to emotional and didn’t move particularly well.

He was bolt upright with his chin in the air. Standing right in front of Pulev when he should be throwing punches off angles.

[sunny31]

I can see it going two ways

One is similar to Fury/Wlad. Almost entirely feinting and unwilling to commit on both sides with Fury happy to be winning the battle of the jabs. Occasionally in the championship rounds there’ll be danger of a fight breaking out and then AJ will go for broke but too late and lose a decision.

Or fury will easily take centre ring, constantly push AJ to the ropes and tee off. AJ gets tired and stopped mid rounds.

I can see what you're saying - I dont see a Wlad type fight if I'm honest. Joshua doesnt have the patience for that and I mean that in a good way, if hes dropping rounds from the outside he will force the issue, close the distance, and let combinations go.

Fury is also someone who takes chances in the ring, he will never fight fully disciplined for 12 rounds, he has lapses in concentration and he also likes to fight. I think Joshua will have opportunities, he wont be nullified for the whole fight like you're second scenario, but I could see that sort of pattern.

Joshua is a much more dynamic offensive fighter to Fury, who's punch delivery can get sloppy, so I do think with Furys tendency to get involved, and Joshua's dynamite in his hands, that Fury at some point will be hurt, maybe more than once.

I just feel where Fury comes up trumps, is stamina, defence, experience, IQ, and natural fighting instincts. Those are all things which will show in the second half of the fight. I think when Joshua gets tired, he wont be able to defend himself.

[sunny31]

I’m going to have to watch the fight again. Last night I felt like AJ looked worse than in the Ruiz rematch. I know he got the KDs etc.

To me he looked nervous all fight, was way to emotional and didn’t move particularly well.

He was bolt upright with his chin in the air. Standing right in front of Pulev when he should be throwing punches off angles.

Most of the second paragraph seems to be a pre-conception or opinion you had before the fight that you are trying to justify. To me he looked comfortable for the most part, and fighting like someone who was trying to not give a chance to someone who didnt have one.

He could have moved a bit better, and changed the angle a bit more agreed.

He did get upright, but I think he was out of range when he did this, and was trying to give Pulev different looks.

Still a work in progress, but definitely improving. I liked seeing him under pressure at times and practicing defence. I liked the fact the he threw nearly 70 punches in round 3 and then had the presence of mind to take his foot off the gas where in the past he's blown a gasket.

His long punches look better, and more crisp. He basically outboxed, and then stopped a solid fighter with a great chin, and didnt take any punishment in return. Not sure how you can criticise that? Only thing is maybe he could have got him out sooner - but I think he did the right thing not going for broke in round 4. If you are nitpicking - lost a bit of control rounds 4-7, still won most of them but something to look at and improve on

[TMLT87]

I think he looked good overall. He was defensively responsible but aggressive when he needed to be, and he looked pretty sharp when he let his hands go. I think his jab and hand speed might have improved a little too. It hasnt changed my mind about the outcome to Fury/AJ though. I still think Fury wins a comfortable UD. doubt he tries to come forward and blast AJ out of there ASAP like he did with Wilder.

[deathofaclown]

I always give credit when it's due Earl my friend.

I would've liked to see Joshua call Fury out directly, but never mind.

I'm confident that the fight happens next.

I’m not so sure it’s next

AJ v Usyk is next I think. That’s why AJ is putting emphases on all the belts and not Fury. Gives him an excuse to avoid the Fury fight by not vacating the WBO and doing his mandatory.

The Fury fight money may be too much money to avoid but not necessarily....

AJ v Fury is a co promotion. AJ v Usyk is an in-house fight. They could still take it to Saudi for big money, AJ gets 75% instead of 50, as its a mandatory fight.

Hearn gets 100% of the promoter cut as he runs the show instead of working with Top Rank.

Sky don’t have to do a co broadcast. And they don’t need to worry about Fury’s exclusive ESPN deal and keep it all on DAZN.


So that’s why I believe AJ keeps talking about undisputed. He isn’t going to vacate and he’s taking that mandatory.

[The plunger man]

I just felt he was a bit wide with his punches, falling in at times as well 'I have noticed a distinct change in his punching technique, it may be down to all of that new pad-work he has been doing'.

I expect Joshua to come in a tad heavier vs Fury, Joshua is sacrificing certain aspects of his game because Ruiz Junior has traumatized him slightly.

I honestly feel like Joshua wants to take 1 more fight, before facing Tyson Fury 'Nothing is for certain when they fight, but Fury has the momentum here'.

Joshua is slowly coming back, slowly rediscovering himself.

245 is perfect weight for Joshua in my opinion because he willl have size and strength and can compete with fury on the inside.....as denium said fury’s wise option is to move and box from the outside because if fights Joshua close up he gets knocked out.....Joshua is good combination puncher and throws various punches especially that uppercut which is becoming his favourite shot and it hurts them.....with fury we are all judging on his performance against wilder but in reality wilder had one punch in his arsenal and nothing else......I don’t think I ever saw an uppercut from wilder in his whole career so the American was very very limited in skill and punching technique.
He got by with just lucky right hands that got him out the ****.
Fury & Joshua are much more complete fighters in comparison

[The plunger man]

So many haters on this forum because they obviously want a war , but he played a game of not being hit much - and he applied that approach well whilst still getting a lot of hits away. He could quite easily have forced stoppage in round 3, but he still continued and finished him in epic style later in the fight. Joshua looked just as comfortable breathing:fitness wise at round 9 as he did in round 1.

I’m more confident AJ beats fury after that fight, I don’t think he’s favourite overall but for me thats where I’ll be putting my money

Joshua has the power and the combinations to hurt fury...he is improving his style all the time and can finish you at the drop of a hat...,I would say he probably is the best finisher in boxing when he has you hurt.
He was actually mimicking pulevs guard last night and was feinting beautifully.
That first right hand where he leaned back and then fired back with his right was pretty special for a 245lb fighter.
Joshua is improving his art all the time

[Mammoth]

I thought he looked rusty

[Kezzer]

I’m not so sure it’s next

AJ v Usyk is next I think. That’s why AJ is putting emphases on all the belts and not Fury. Gives him an excuse to avoid the Fury fight by not vacating the WBO and doing his mandatory.

The Fury fight money may be too much money to avoid but not necessarily....

AJ v Fury is a co promotion. AJ v Usyk is an in-house fight. They could still take it to Saudi for big money, AJ gets 75% instead of 50, as its a mandatory fight.

Hearn gets 100% of the promoter cut as he runs the show instead of working with Top Rank.

Sky don’t have to do a co broadcast. And they don’t need to worry about Fury’s exclusive ESPN deal and keep it all on DAZN.


So that’s why I believe AJ keeps talking about undisputed. He isn’t going to vacate and he’s taking that mandatory.

AJ vs fury wouldn’t be a co show anyway? Why would sky agree to let BT join?

Would be sky + ESPN + dazn (outside America/uk) - everybody wins

[uppercut510]

he boxed pretty good, still improving, i still thinks he loses to fury and wilder tho