It's called being objective. Don't think that because you're a diplomat that this hides your bias. I have no issue with calling it as I see it, and my opinion is always subject to change as I'm never held hostage by marketing or clan axioms like many are, including yourself. I don't really have a boxer I "support" and I'm not a nationalist. Needless to say, I have no issue commending Joshua on his strengths and in equal measure, I have no issue bringing up his weaknesses, and offering critique on the corporate machine that impels the foundational basis of his career - and that's why his failure in the USA was relevant, but of course, you see it as "unlikely". You turn a blind eye when suits, much like you do with your fairytale beliefs regarding doping.
Lol at whoever is saying “he needs it all his own way”, there was absolutely nothing wrong with AJ in America - he made mistakes with his own game. He went toe to toe with a fighter with a great chin when his own is shaky, he learned from that fight.
Would not say Rice Pudding Ruiz Jnr had a great chin - he had more chins than a Hong Kong Phone Book that night to go with his huge natural man boobs Check out the footage from the recent Chris Arreola fight
I think that's typically true of your posts, which was why that statement from you that 'he was crapping himself because he was in the USA' seemed a little out of character. It didn't come across as objective, or at least not to poor old hostage to marketing and clan axioms me. Not to worry. Not seen the Arreola fight yet, seem to remember him taking some good shots in that bore fest vs Parker, but can't face watching that again and of course it was a few years ago. A frustrating guy because he does have talent if not the physique.
I think he lost his head a bit after the win. He's a pro so obviously he went into the fight against AJ thinking he could win.. but when he actually did I think he couldn't quite believe it. He wasn't ready for the attention or stardom that came with it.
Well, I do know that if something there is not on some well known boxers hype train, it is judged by some posters as haters posts, anitpathy etc. The problem is that A.J is very big cash cow like Canelo is in US and he is home town fighter. Like Ottke in Germany , nothing wrong with this and nope, his greatness is not more than Ottke greatness, maybe lesser btw if in depth. The A.J marquee fights are vs gentlemans over the hill, his fans are praising how good boxer he is because best achievements in his life are wins vs ring rusty 41 y.o Wlad and 39 y.o Povetkin, it is what it is here, sorry. The Panda at least had delivered fun to watch true A.J level in both fights: Ruiz I and Ruiz II fight. A.J fights very rarerly, also as a pro did not had fought on foreign soil with wins if we will exclude running in large ring in Saudi in eddie event vs Panda. A.J needs to fight more frequently and with not too old opponents. Otherwise yeah, this era looks far Worse than Klits era, yeah. Why? A lot of modern era boxers beat up boxers already beated up by Klits or even by Povetkin and also their greatness is over the hill boxers beatup in their backyards.
Just to clarify, that statement was made in response to a quote from Safin, not yourself. Obviously there's been massive hype around Joshua, although equally obviously, but not as frequently acknowledged, that hype brings about a counter reaction from fans who are sick of it. Unfortunately, any attempt to call that out is then classed as being fanboy or nationalism in origin. The truth is that AJ is a good but flawed boxer who has reached the top of the sport through a combination of his own considerable efforts and gifts alongside careful matchmaking and skilful coaching with a smattering of luck at the right times too. His resume may have weaknesses, but any fair comparison with his peers would suggest it's as good as or better than any of them can boast. He lacks those impressive away performances that top Fury's record, but the reason he lacks them is that his career has been far better put together and by maintaining his discipline he's managed to outearn his more naturally gifted peer in UK heavyweight boxing. Ultimately, the business of boxing is to get the most with the least risk. If the ranking body tells Joshua that Pulev is next then the blame for him facing another older fighter lies with both the ranking body and the younger fighters who refused a trip to Bulgaria to take that mandatory position off him.
A.J not likely is judged as cherry picker for fighting vs old ( sorry, we do know what it is ) Pulev, however this fight was with too damn predictable results and fans forums with survey pools had pulled him as damn heavy underdog vs A.J, btw not rarerly even far more underdog than Ruiz Jr befor 1 st fight because Pulev had been finished in distance by old but not enough old Wlad long years ago. Well, first difference between Fury vs old Wlad vs A.J vs old Wlad was this: vs Fury old Wlad had bunch with belts, he was champ with these belts vs challenger in Fury. A.J was with belts and vs out of retirement even more old Wlad who was rusty and fight was in U.K where A.J was tickets seller. 3 damn big differences there. The most interesting boxers are who does fight around the world and are traveling boxers. Like Valuev: Japan, South Korea, Australia, Switzerland, U.K, Germany, U.S, Russia and x other countries. Next thing are boxers who had opponents in their prime for their marquee fights, like Usyk at CW then. Sadly highly ranked boxers fights not frequently, some 1 fight during 8-9 months, some even 1 fight during 1 year AND this even before !!!!!Covid. The higher ranked is boxer, the less number of fights he is doing during 1 year. Before Covid! Now add there Covid restrictions era in the world and you get what you get there.
Usyk deserves all the praise he gets and more for his exploits in beating all the contenders on their home turf. The point I was trying to make however is that because AJ had the luck to come from a sports mad country with big TV revenue potential and through home Olympic participation (lucky with judging there also) a high profile from which to start, his promoter been able to outbid any rival and have all the fights on home soil. That's simply what you do if you can get away with it. You get every advantage you can, from home support to friendly officials to convenient ring size changes. We can look on and say it's not fair, or that Usyk did it the hard way, but this isn't really AJ's fault, simply a reflection of a very imperfect sport, or a business masquerading as one...
Ruiz wasn't right for the rematch, not saying he would have won had he been 100% but in hindsight talking about a trilogy in the buildup was a massive red flag - Ruiz had already battered AJ so if he won the rematch which presumably was his plan there would have been absolutely no demand for a rubber match so why talk about it ??? This is obviously just speculation and I can't prove anything but part of me thinks Andy wasn't too bothered about winning the rematch with the further megabucks a trilogy fight was going to bring. Ruiz was the first ever Mexican HW champ, had the backing of the nation and could have made even more money from big fights with Wilder etc. had he beat AJ but yet he comes in a career heaviest and admits afterwards he didn't train properly ??
There is a bit different thing. A lot of boxers Usyk had fought were already current champions. Glowacki was 2-0 in World title fights on foreign soil ( US and U.K ) and then very popular tickets seller in Poland and Usyk was his challenger. Briedis was current champ with successful title defense under belt and this guy had won his marquee fight in Germany vs Huck who was fight event's co promoter. Gassiev was current champion. All these also were their prime versions. Challengers for Usyk were Bellew, Hunter and Mchunu, if I remember correctly. Yeah, like this. Pro boxing looks that is relatively far from sport and guys fight : the higher ranked they are, the lesser number of fights per 1 year. I think that for Usyk was not good that he had high number of pro opponents in their physical prime and yeah, he barely had dealt with Briedis. Lucky boxer.
Great fight this one. I think Usyk has a great chance. He is a very clever fighter and can upset Joshua, no doubt. Usyks game plan must be spot on for 12 rounds. I think Joshua needs to seek and destroy, can he do it for 12 rounds if need be? This one comes down to mental resilience, the basics done really well, and fitness. That is why I favour Usyk by late stoppage or points.
Big Josh getting stopped again here. Picked apart and bamboozled by the BRUTHA from behind the iron curtain. Josh has no gastank, none. Cannot fight on the back foot, and isn’t in against a shot to pieces/ fat/ midget for perhaps the first time in his career. No chin, no stamina, mentally broken after getting bounced around the ring by the tubby little grinning Mexican fella. Fought terrified in the rematch, against a clinically obese man and celebrated like it was redemption but those demons were out on full display. I’m a HUGE Joshua fan, always click on red when I’m told to by my telly, but even I can see he is a shot fighter at this point. He simply cannot last twelve at the pace BRUTHA USKY brings. Gets stopped on his feet, calls out dillian WHYTELEAFE in the ring afterwards.
