Does Wlad have any advantages over Joshua

Experience. That's about it. Don't even think his jab has the edge at this stage.

 

Was about to say the same.

 

Experience, jab and defence

 

experience in getting ktfo by nobodies.


he'll always have something over josh whatever now transpires.

 

Experiance/jab and probably the training because he knows what works and what doesnt .He will probably bring more strength training into this fight but he still has a huge explosive opponent to deal with that is going to have the style advantage which is close quarter fighting .

 

Basically that's all.

 

If Wlad was firing on all cylinders I'd say AJ was in trouble. Right now he's looked iffy in his last fights.

I'd agree with what folks are saying: experience, and a keen analytical mind to dissect AJ's style and to come up with a way to exploit the flaws. If Wlad can pull a Schmeling on AJ then he may just have done a very clever thing legacy wise. I reckon Joshua may be destined for great things, but he's still rather green. I suspect that Wlad has picked the right time to take him on.

 

Experience, jab, single punch power, probably strength in the clinch. 50/50 fight.

 

No, Wlad is too old and gun shy now.

 

Wlad still has the better footwork.

Whether or not his footspeed has slipped too much is the difference in this fight for me. If that's eroded too much, he's got to hope he gets to AJ before AJ gets to him. If he still has enough of his old movement, I think he'll make AJ look flat footed and stiff. AJ is a powerhouse, but somewhat predictable offensively and leaves some openings. The question is if Wlad has enough in the tank to exploit that.

 

I think he might be too. AJ will be an acid test. Wlad won't be able to spoil his way to victory so easily in this one. He's going to have to let fly, or die. Figuratively speaking.

 

The interesting thing is that Wlad's been pressing so hard for this fight after having sparred AJ extensively.

I don't think we'd see Wlad pursue Joshua to that extent if he hadn't seen something there he still thinks he can exploit. There were easier paths to belts for him. Wlad's not the ducking type, but nobody would've blamed him if he'd went in another direction. Instead, he practically ran to Joshua in his back yard.

 

Agreed. The question is whether he has enough left to do the exploiting with. If he brutalizes AJ the hype will be over the moon and cops will be cutting a suicide off a rope somewhere in a London apartment ...

 

Like others have already said he has an enormous advantage in experience. 18 fights vs 68 fights, that can't be understated.

He's lighter on his feet than Joshua, or at least he was.

Another thing is he has a reach advantage with broader shoulders and longer arms despite what the tale of the tape says.
Overall he looked like the bigger framed man in the ring. Joshua is carrying a bit more muscle.