Is Anthony Joshua overrated?

Completely overrated by the press and casuals. Has time on his side, however.

Unfortunately in terms of pure boxing, he also has the media, casuals and power/promotions on his side, which don't fare as well for facing the best or creating a legacy that will last very fondly, unless he does turn out in the end to completely be the real deal. If he does live up to the see-through current expectations and ratings of the aforementioned, then he rightly will deserve the rating they give him.

 

This is why Joshua is overrated.

First of all, a late replacement for a #1 mandatory is still a late replacement. Chris Arreola was a late replacement for the #1 contender Povetkin (who failed his drug test) when Wilder fought Arreola, wasn't he? Big deal. Joshua beat a late sub.

Second, the ATG was in his 40s and hadn't won a fight in two years. Most fighters in history haven't gotten much credit, if any at all, for their wins over 40-something former champs who haven't won a fight in years.

Truth is, Joshua should've ended it in the fifth. Lesser guys have beaten much better versions of Wlad much sooner.

Third, you describe Joseph Parker as a "WORLD CHAMPION." If Joseph Parker never wins another title, which is likely given who the champs are, where will he rate all-time among the champions? Honestly?

Somewhere around Bruce Seldon?

And that might be a disservice to Seldon. Because Bruce actually beat Tony Tucker and beat Joe Hipp to a pulp. Joseph Parker's own fans were arguing whether he deserved the nod against Andy Ruiz and Hughie Fury.

And Joshua's win over Parker wasn't anything to write home about.

Finally, Alexander Povetkin is a #1 contender. He's also 39 YEARS OLD. If Povetkin wins, and he's a big underdog, he'll be the SECOND OLDEST man to win a heavyweight title.

Again, you're not supposed to lose to 39-year-olds when you're 28 and in your prime.

In other words, what Joshua has done is nothing spectacular.

He may be remembered one day for being a great fighter. But it won't be because he beat a late sub for a #1 contender, or because he beat freaking Joseph Parker, or because he let a 42-year-old floor him and nearly steal his title.

He's got a lot of work to do.

Yes, he's very overrated.

 

Rated over who? There are only a handful of very good Hw's so if he's better than 5 mediocre guys so what? If he can get through Povetkin, Wilder and Fury in devasating fashion then i for one will call him elite. Until then, no. He needs more than a washed up Wlad to be considered elite.

 

I agree with this.

 

I agree with alot of what you just wrote. I wonder however, if Wilder was put through the same resume, what would his record be? I have to say that I think he'd end up with a few losses, at least one. Not that there's a problem with losses in my eyes. If someone fights the best, they'll most likely lose a few.

I'm not saying this to bash Wilder or promote Joshua, as I've just criticized him in my earlier post. My contention is that he's been overrated, put in too tough in many ways, and has plateaued as a result and so looks kinda stale at this point and is stuck in neutral.

 

Max Baer was every bit as good as Wilder is with a similar reach and similar power. Baer was also even built similar to the way Wilder is. Also, alot of modern fighters have inflated stats. Wilder is most likely 6'5" 1/2 at most, which is the same height as Carnera, but Wilder has the shorter reach.

Max Baer 6'2" 1/2 and Primo Carnera 6'5" 1/2
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/82/c5/69/82c56987ea9896c6291a1ee9d8db2238.jpg

Chris Arreola 6'3" and Deontay Wilder 6'7" (Listed)
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FtsAyQl4A_A/maxresdefault.jpg

 

Joshua isn't overrated. He's just green. If he keeps learning and continues to fight different styles and learn he has the potential to become a great fighter. I'd like to see his jab, uppercut, and ring efficiency improve, since Joshua's poor efficiency is his biggest setback and why he always gasses. Povetkin is going to be looking to exploit any and every rookie mistake that Joshua might make, since he has the experience and power to make Joshua pay unlike Parker, who didn't have the experience, skill, or power to capitalize on Joshua

 

Chris Arreola was completely shot, Takam was still in his prime.

A 39 year old Povetkin has still been knocking over ranked fighters for a decade, 39 year old Ortiz and shot Stiverne have not.

Parker beat contenders Takam, Ruiz Jr and Fury, he deserved his belt and his place as a top contender today after 2 close losses to Joshua and Whyte.

For 10 years, no one even looked close to beating Klitshcko, it was the Klitshcko division. 40 years old or not, respect is given where its due.

If Joshua is over rated, i shake my head at the thought at what people think of the rest of the guys in the division. Joshua is going to be beat throughout his career, anyone who fights the level of competition he does throughout his career is bound to lose a couple. Apart from a few committed clowns, I fail to see how hes being over rated.

 

I love the way the people underrating Joshua are the same ones overrating Ortiz. It's just whatever fits your agenda I guess.

 

Some good comments and insight, but to reiterate, rating is the consensus of what the overall think, so Joshua is clearly hugely overrated. Hyperbole exists here in the UK.

He hasn't deserved earth-shattering shockwaves over here, yet has been fed to the public as the best thing since Ali. It's all out for him to deserve and cement his rating, to both casuals and the hardcore. Hopefully his promoters won't hold him back he can be fairly rated during his career.

 

I think he is a bit overrated, but has earned the right to be overly hyped, if that makes sense.

There is no doubt that he has picked up the pieces of the division from the Fury abandonment in a way that Wilder did not dare. So mad props, respect, and love to the man.

That much being said we know that he struggled with Dillion Whyte, shotter-than-shot, year-and-a-half-off Wlad Klitschko, and had to fight cautious against Parker and Takam. So yeah, in terms of his real ability, he is being oversold a bit by some.

Good luck to him. Povetkin is going to be a tough fight, and let's let that answer some questions.

 

I've not seen people state he's the GOAT or an ATG etc....

Just that right now, he's the best HW in the world.


There's more evidence supporting Joshua to be the best HW on the planet than anyone else right now.
That isn't 'Overrating' him, that's just saying it how it is.



Stating that Joshua's resume after 20 fights is one of, if the not greatest, resumes of a HW boxer in the history of the sport, isn't 'Overrating' him....It's just a fact when looking at resume's of ATG's like Lewis/Wlad and current active HW's like Povetkin/Wilder/Fury.



Imo, there isn't an active boxer right now who could dethrone Lennox Lewis from the ATG HW ranking.

Joshua/Wilder/Fury, even if they beat the other 2, cannot have a resume as strong as Lewis's.


If all three retired today, Joshua would be seen as the best of the Post-Klitschko era, followed by Fury and then Wilder.

Why?

Joshua has beaten more HW belt holders and mandatories than Wilder/Fury combined.....
Fury has beaten a better HW champion in Klitschko compared to Stiverne.....

 

Depends on who you ask.

If you ask the AJ "fan boys" who already think he is all time great and no other HW currently is capable of beating him, then yes he is by them.

If you ask the anti matchroom brigade who don't recognise that he is clearly the number 1 HW at present, that have predicted he will be exposed every fight, refer to him as a "robot" and "chinny". Then I would say he is very undderrated by them.

 

Overrated big time. British stiff on roids

 

Yes.
Not as much as Fury in my opinion, but certainly overrated.