AJs December opponent

Year one takes the IBF belt from a weak champion then defends it twice against lack luster opponents

Year two unifies the WBA and makes an IBF mandatory defence (both top 10 opponents)

Year three unifies the WBO and makes a WBA mandatory defence (both top 10 opponents)

That's four top ten opponents in a row. It may be some time before a heavyweight champion has that kind of run again.

And it's hardly his fault the division was left in a mess. He was a great champion until 2019 in how he stayed active, dealt with his mandatories with regularity and looked to move the division toward undisputed.

My issue is what happened after that. Milking three belts rather than defending them with regularity, resultantly holding up the whole division.

 

I wouldn't have Takam among the top 10 at that time.

but i think you are too harsh on AJ for being inactive during the covid lockdown years. he managed to squeeze a mandatory defence in December 2020.
& another in September 2021. when he was dethroned.
not too bad considering how many months & multiple lockdowns and restrictions we encountered in that period.

 

I'm going off general rankings. For Takam: tbrb #6, pbo #9, ring didn't. And I think he was IBF #2 or 3 (he was next in line after Pulev, but they sometimes leave #1 or #2 free)

I don't think I'm being harsh. Four times, since that point, when he has been in full control of his schedule he has pushed back dates.

He set a date for April 2019. Cancelled it and went to America (6 months turned into a 9 month gap). There was no legitimate reason for doing that. He could have fought twice in April and then America in the Fall.

They were desperate to lock in the Ruiz Jr. Rematch and not derail Joshua which forced a quick turn around of 6 months. Rumours of Ruiz Jr. enjoying the high life meant that a quick turn around was suddenly advantageous. (I can't believe I'm calling 6 months a quick turn around lol). I suspect they also wanted to confine it all to the calendar years of 2019. Easier to spin it as a blip in his resume.

Then when back in control, you are correct Covid-19 happened, and it's understandable that fighters couldn't schedule anything for around a 6 month block. But again he was quoted about fighting Pulev at Matchroom HQ. There were even alternatives in other nations. Instead he sat out 12 months. But sure let's give him a pass on that one.

Then after Pulev he yet again, said how he wanted to be back out again with a quick turn around (4-5 months). At this point his WBO mandatory had been pushed back multiple times. Did Joshua fight Usyk in 5-6 months? No he threatened to drop the belt. Was eventually forced to fight him 9 months later.

Rematch was obviously out of his hands and delayed by the Ukraine war. However I doubt he was looking for a quick turn around there, because now he is back in control he speaks about fighting in December. Now Hearn is saying early 2023. That is #4. (#3 if we exclude Pulev due to Covid)

So, Four (three) times when in full control of his own schedule (as an A-side fighter) he has chosen to push back dates.

Am I still being harsh? Or are we ignoring an obvious pattern?

Edited: many typos

 

Late to the party here, Ruiz Jnr got iced out by Ortiz? Sorry, has somebody gone back in time and changed history without me knowing. There'd be absolutely nothing wrong with a third fight with him at this stage.

 

It's was the OP's prediction/hope for the fight.

 

That's a good point about the April 2019 date being scrapped. I'd forgotten that. Also, he hadn't fought since September 2018, so that's a long time.
Also, I agree he could have done a fight in Eddie's back garden since the December 2020 Pulev fight was in front of such a small crowd anyway.
But you have to remember restrictions were in place again at around this time, December 2020 until mid 2021.

But yes you're right.
On the other hand, he's been about as active as the rest of them.
Usyk's activity has been pathetic for a few years now, and Fury's is well documented.
Ruiz, Whyte, Wilder, Ortiz etc. none of them have been doing 3 fights a year even. & have had 12 months between fights or more.

 

Not true. Hearn initially said they wanted that done early this year (pre-war) but they once again dragged it out. Then they tried to get step aside which delayed things even further.

 

Heavies should fight more, there's no gruelling weight cut, for guys coming up they should be fighting 3-4 times a year

 

Hearn initially said November or December. He's already talking of April or May.
There was no chance of him fighting Fury and I'm shocked anyone fell for it.

 

LOL the "top 10" arguments will never die from the Joshua hardcore. There's more holes in that argument than a sieve.

 

Can't disagree with what you're saying. Let's also not forget, Joshua's big introduction to the USA was intended to be Jarrell Big Baby Miller. I mean, people complain about Sefer Seferi and Otto Wallin, but come on.

They did however, have a rap battle in the yet to be aired Gloves are off episode.

If Eggie Hearn puts that on DAZN pay per view, I must say I'd be tempted to fork out for it. And the way DAZN is going I wouldn't put it past them.

"It's the biggest rap battle of this century, Koogs. The rhymes they spit make Eminem sound like Louis Theroux. I mean Joshua has taken the rap game to a new level Koogs. It won't be on DAZN pay per view, but it's only £27.99 if you have already subscribed."

 

Actually Jarrell Big Gravy Miller could be a good shout.

 

Another fatso for Joshua - weighing in at 341 and 328 (64 and 62 stone respectively) in his last bouts. The man is a waddling heart attack.

 

Yeah but Hearn can sell him as a fire breathing monster to casuals

 

I’ve heard on the grapevine that if that Gloves are off ep ever sees the light of day, the AJ brand would collapse within minutes and would surely take Dazn with it