How Anthony Joshua can become the greatest heavyweight of this era

If the above happens, then I would put Aj ahead of Usyk despite the losses. His body of work would be just too much at the weight. Head to head isn't anything

If Fury beats Usyk twice and Aj then he is the best of the era

Usyk isn't over the line yet. I suspect he will win his rematch, but it isn't set in stone. One fight, one punch can change everything

 

Fury won more belts and titles and away from home,Usyk won more belts and titles and away from home including Undisputed and both fighters also held the Lineal Title,The Man Who beat the Man ! Could Joshua take over after Usyk and claim an era? Possibly yes but until that time his name is not on the list ! The best chance for Joshua is for Usyk to retire undefeated and then clean up the Division afterwards,it could be done but can he,time will tell..
https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/Lineal_Heavyweight_Champion

 

If Usyk loses to Dustin Nichols.

 

A major difference is Bernard arguably won both fights (still debated to this day). Then Jermaine's entire title reign was tenuous and he got ko'd then lost again to someone that Bernard absolutely made look like they didn't belong in the same ring as him.

And yes Usyk being 2-0 against him makes him greater. There's nothing Joshua could do to be the best HW of this era. Usyk has already punched that ticket. It's over.

 

Add Mark De Mori to that list and you have a very Harry Greb type resume.

 

Joshua gets a lot of chances but still fails to be the best because he's just not that good...

 

He lost his chances with Ruiz and Usyk. Besides he will never face Fury.

 

Only takes one punch to alter things
He is in pole position yes, but more to do I'm afraid

 

It's impossible.

Usyk has beaten him twice and is the greatest of the era hands down.

 

Horrible logic?.not really. For me, it's more of a harsh,cold, check-mate in this particular instance. No matter what AJ does, imo, from here on in as of right now for his next 3 or so fights will change the fact that he can't conclusively be considered the greatest of this era. Not unless he fights and avenges his two huge back to back conclusive losses to Usyk...

I'll massively load the dice in AJ's favour here. Just say Usyk retires tomorrow and doesn't EVEN re-match Fury.. Say AJ then fights Fury and wins, and say he re-matches Fury and wins again. Then he has another two fights with two top ten fighters and wins. That scenario will definitely have him as a front runner great of this era for sure. But not actually the greatest. His two unavenged losses to Usyk were simply just too comprehensive to even try and gloss over. You can't lose in that manner, not avenge it, and be the no 1 greatest.imo. you just cant

Usyk nearly had AJ outta there in the first bout at the end of the 12th after a decisive win. And again he won decisively in the re-match. To the point that AJ had a mental break down in the ring post fight...he then lost all self belief, confidence, and fighting dog which was very painfully evident in his fight with Franklin. AJ has a documented chequered past for these sorts of issues. Hardly what you'd consider 'the greatest' defining traits.

You can hark back to yesteryear iconic greats as genuine examples as they actually are, as much as you want. However, the circumstances of both Holyfield and Ali were different in their particular cases and losses as they either won
Re-matches and avenged, or won at least one out of double or multiple bouts. The main point is, they either set or evened the score. AJ has not.....big, big, difference.


As an aside, but on-point. Many say Ali was the greatest of the 70's era ( and all time). If I were to try and counter that, just say purely for arguments sake, by saying I think Foreman was greater. What would be your first goto and immediate counter comment to my claim be?......and don't lie.

 

Glass Joshua looks great against certain opponents and mediocre against others. Nobody is going to forget his loss to Doughboy Ruiz or the losses to Usyk. They matter.

 

fight Usyk....two more times and beat him. even then he would just be tied with him. there is no conceivable way that AJ can be the greatest heavyweight. or....did you mean at marbles?