Who do you think Anthony Joshua should fight next in a tune-up?

I genuinely like AJ. He's not the best, but he generally (Paul and Ngannou aside) has tried to conduct his career in the right way. I'm very sympathetic to what happened in his personal life recently. But I've also seen much wanted planned big fights go up in smoke after 'warm up' fights have gone badly. If he wants to continue, I would advise just going for the Fury bout. It really is in last, last chance saloon if that's the one he wants.

 

Is that relevant when Dubios and Warren said they wanted that fight? We can only go on what happened in public, this "we don't know the inner workings" is a cheap cop out from you, and quite frankly I expected better. It's a boxing forum where we discuss events based on what we can see or perceive, and having "insider knowledge" isn't a pre-requisite for discussion.

I've already said in this thread that Wilder would be acceptable as a tune up fight for Fury. I put Dubios forward as another option because it would be a good opportunity for AJ to avenge a loss.

 

People claim Fury has a glass jaw despite never being stopped. It's used rather liberally on this forum.

AJ has an OK chin, but awful recovery. It's easy to conflate the two.

 

People claim stupid stuff all the time. It gets old. I think Fury's chin is fine IMO. Good recovery. Suggests there's some balance issues. WHich isn't surprising with his size.

I don't think Aj has a glass jaw. But it's not great at all. Susceptible maybe.

 

Like others said, Dubois. I think Wardley is going to beat Dubois. I think catching Dubois after a hard fight could tip the scales in AJ's favor.

 

No, it's not a cop out, it's reality. It's one thing to state an opinion, but I don't pretend to know what boxers think here, or their reasons for a choice of a fight.. And I know a lot do that "Oh he knows he's going to lose...blah blah." Or "He knows he's scared"... as if the poster is making decisions with millions of dollars hanging over them.

You're right, it isn't a pre-requisite. But there should be some acknowledgement or humility in some posts. Posters try too many hot takes or just talk smack. That stuff isn't serious for any type discussion. It's just banter and trolling for the most part.

I doubt AJ was in a rush to face Dubois. Did he do an immediate rematch with Ruiz? Yes he did. That was also his first KO loss. He's had a few more since.

 

A quick question on google asking why Joshua did not immediately rematch Dubois

https://www.google.com/search?q=why...bois&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari

Primary reason: physical niggles,injury’s needing recovery and a desire for a full training camp to rectify tactical errors.
Key factors for delaying the rematch.
Injury and recovery
Need for a strategic reset
Alternative high level options
The nature of the loss
While Joshua ultimately desired the rematch,the timing was deemed unsuitable for a successful comeback attempt in early 2025.

 

Well, he also gave Usyk an immediate rematch despite being outclassed. Dubious is the only opponent he chose not only to not immediately rematch, but doesn't appear to be interested in rematching at all.

Of course you're right that we don't have the full picture, but outside looking in it doesn't look great. More than happy to eat my hat if AJ goes on a hot run though, I'll always give credit where it's due.

 

If he isn't there mentally, don't show up front row talking about how you run boxing and you're the landlord yada yada tough guy ****. You don't get to be both grief stricken, deserving of sympathy and show up saying everyone works for me, I'm the big dog. Pick a lane. Only dumbo fanboys defend this stuff.

AJ prefers Wilder, does he? Wilder is a tune up is he? Seems to me that Joshua is ALWAYS about to face a threat, then manages to fight Jake Paul. Remember when Joshua vs. Bakole in Africa was IMMININENT? What happened? Perhaps Bakole is also ducking.

 

Agree with those saying Miller - hes somewhat of a name, hes durable, will give AJ rounds without really taking much out of him. If AJ can't beat Miller than he shouldn't be anywhere near Fury...

Can see why they might pick Wilder too as hes shot to bits and will be a financially lucrative option. Although, more risky than Miller and we don't need tune up fights ruining major fights that we have been waiting for almost a decade.

David Allen would get beaten up badly by AJ. It shouldn't even be a sanctionable fight.

 

They didn't actually have a rematch clause - surprisingly. Part of the reason for this I think was that Dubois was the belt holder going into the fight.

 

Wilder.

 

Unfortunately Dubois answered the kettle instead of the phone

 

I don’t agree with that, wilder and Joshua had a window of about a year where it made sense, wilder has never been relevant in this era of heavyweight boxing.
The fury fight will still generate more interest than any other fight in boxing.

 

Maybe AJ, after being chinned by Dubois, finally realized that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. No sense in taking on tough fights and all that because the fans are going to slate you for losing anyway. Better to be just like Fury and avoid every tough test altogether unless they dump a zillion bucks at your feet.

Hopefully he doesn't start up with the excuse making like Fury too, though. Bad enough we've got one spoiled man-child of a narcissist in the HW division. We certainly don't need two!