Fair enough post. Still think Wlad can flatten him if he lands. And AJ doesn't have the footwork to trouble Wlad like Fury and Jennings.
I have to give Vlad the edge...............................Vlad will be a young 41, he takes care of his health, if he is focused he will win the fight, he is just much more skilled.................a loss will not hurt Joshua's career, he can come back, for Vlad, this is it. Vlad chose the best heavyweight out there, Wilder would have been a much easier fight, so would Parker, although Parker is better than Wilder..........................
That is the thing. Wladimir is getting judged as completely shot coming up again athletic world level fighter that can move well like Jennings and Fury. Joshua has pretty much fought statuanary targets. Unfortunately for Joshua Wladimir is not a statuanary target, and when he misses Wladimir will make him pay. Wladimir by late KO.
I bet you most the people picking Wlad still wont give AJ any credit if he KO's Wlad, all you will hear is "Wlad was shot, would have destroyed him a few years ago."
It takes years to earn the proper credit. Ali was hated by a lot of people in the 1960's, so was Liston when he was champion. Lennox Lewis never got the the proper credit until after he was retired. Fury on the other hand was upset he never got the credit he thought he deserved after beating Wladimir. It will take more than one win for Joshua to get credit. By the way I doubt Wladimir will get as much credit as you think when he beats Joshua.
I truly believe that if he beats AJ is will be HUGE for his legacy. I think AJ will go on to do great things and it's only with the passing of time that what Wlad is doing now will be appreciated. A difficult fight for both men.
If AJ goes on to big things, it would provide a big boost. If AJs career winds up resembling Frank Bruno more than Lennox Lewis, not so much.
Joshua will win by early KO, and will go on to be the first heavyweight to unify the division since Lennox Lewis.
Unpredictable. Too many unknowns. How good will Joshua really be on a whole new level of competition? How does Joshua's chin hold up to a Wlad right hand or left hook? (should he throw one) How well does Joshua deal with a really good jab? Was the Wlad of the Fury fight true deterioration of ability, or was it a temporary distraction/lack of focus/or the unorthodox style of Fury? I can truly see anything from a KO1 (either guy) to 12 round stinker happening in this fight. Makes it interesting.
Wladimir will win this by late stoppage or a clear, but close decision. I don't think Joshua can blast Wlad out within the first half of the fight, if he could not do so with Braezeale. Wladimir perfected his defensive skills after the Brewster loss and he can weather the storm Joshoua would bring in the first rounds. It is also possible that Wlad's left hook catches AJ on the way in. This will be a fight where AJ will do well, but fall short and, of course learn a great deal. At the same time, he is obviously the second best fighter on Wlad's resume (second only to Fury), meaning that Wladimir has not beaten a fighter of his calibre yet (prime Peter comes the closest, maybe...). Long story short: Wladimir UD 12.
There is a decent chance of that. I think if he's wins it will be by fairly early ko. And if he wins, I think he will unify.