Anthony Joshua - 2016 to 2019 - now that his reign has ended, where does he stand all time?

Anthony Joshua’s first (and maybe only) title reign has come to an end.

Now that it’s over, it may be a good time to review where Joshua stands among the all-time champs to this point.

Joshua’s reign spanned a little more than three years (April 2016 to June 2019), which is very good in terms of longevity.

Joshua successfully defended six times, which is also very good. A large percentage of heavyweight champions never made even one successful defense.

Joshua won his IBF title in just his 16th professional fight, which is also very good.

He was also upset in a relatively one-sided loss in just his 23rd professional fight. Historically, that does not bode well for his future.

Like most champions, the quality of his opposition during his reign ranged from very good to poor.

At the start of 2016, the two heavyweight champions were the undefeated Deontay Wilder (WBC) and newly crowned undefeated Tyson Fury (WBA, IBF, WBO).

Joshua would never meet either (through no fault of his own).

Months after winning his titles against Wlad Klitschko, Fury was stripped of all of his belts for various reasons (failure to meet the IBF top contender, failed drug tests, mental disorders, drug abuse … pick your poison). Fury lost his license and left the ring for more than two years. As a result, Fury was a non-factor for most of Joshua’s reign.

Joshua defeated Charles Martin for Fury’s old IBF belt. Joshua defeated Joseph Parker for Fury’s old WBO belt. And Joshua defeated Wlad Klitschko for the vacant WBA belt (which Wlad had lost to Fury) to claim three of boxing’s four established belts.

Joshua also successfully defended against Dominic Breazeale, Eric Molina, late-sub Carlos Takam and Alexander Povetkin.

In his seventh defense, Joshua was dropped four times and stopped by late-sub Andy Ruiz in seven rounds, in arguably the biggest upset in boxing history.

Joshua became famous in his home country for winning the gold medal in the London Olympics, was a popular champion who filled stadiums at home and commanded some of the largest purses in heavyweight history.

For most of his three-year reign, Joshua was viewed as either the top heavyweight or no worse than number two.

Unfortunately for Joshua, Wilder and Fury sat at the top of the division when he began his reign and remain there (alongside Ruiz) now that he’s no longer champ.

Joshua’s run as champion may also be impacted by Andy Ruiz’s reign.

If the well-known veteran Ruiz has a reign more Jim Braddock or Buster Douglas than Cassius Clay (which seems likely), that could damage how Joshua’s championship reign is viewed going forward.

So, before fights outside his control impact how his reign is viewed, let’s review Joshua’s reign as it stands today.

*Three-year reign.
* Six successful defenses.
* Unified three belts (one vacant belt and the other two against lightly regarded champs)
* Losing it all in one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.

How does Joshua stack up all-time right now?

I think the positives outweigh the negatives to this point. The Ruiz loss was crushing. I think there will be some dark days ahead for Joshua.

But, right now, I’d say he was one of the better champions from 1960 on.

Although, given his performance against Ruiz, I don’t know if Joshua would've done any better against guys like Lewis and Tyson and even Witherspoon than Frank Bruno did.

As of today, I believe, based on his three-year reign alone, Joshua will make the Hall of Fame someday.

The fact that he didn't face or beat (whether it was his fault or not) one of the top heavyweights of his era - and lost it all in a massive upset - keeps him out of the Hall for a number of years after he's eligible, however.

 

This reign is over. We can judge it now. Beginning to end.

 

At this point, I would rate Joshua higher than Bruno and Haye, certainly.

 

Anthony Joshua's reign is over. We can certainly discuss where he ranks all time AT THIS POINT now that his run as a heavyweight champion is over.

We do it to all champs when they lose.

Ali's first reign was certainly discussed when he lost his license. Frazier's reign was discussed when he lost to Foreman.

Don't be a fanboy. It's a legit boxing conversation.

 

I started watching boxing in 1975.

And did you miss the careers of the other 95% percent of heavyweight champions who never regained their titles?

Joshua had a long title reign. The guy who beat him dropped him four times and humiliated him. And Joshua doesn't have a brother who can avenge his loss.

We can discuss Joshua's reign as heavyweight champion. Based on heavyweight history, odds are likely he won't have another.