Yep, I know you saw this on another thread but it bears repeating I think what I'm most upset about is this grift of tuneups in 2026. It's interesting, I remember reading an interview with Archie Moore after a fight where he said he really needed a tuneup next time to be sharp (he was out of the ring for like 3 months). How times have changed!
Exactly. AJ hasn’t got it anymore if so. The guy is coming from a horrific life event. I hope he wins and shows something then flogs the dosser. Probably unlikely but here’s hoping.
I think I just saw that Fury is looking for a tune up as well. These guys seem to fight so infrequently that they need a tune up ever couple fights. It's annoying AF.
It's a grift I'm sure If they really wanted a tuneup they would fight Terrell Jamal Woods or Joey Dawjeko over 8 rounds for a few thousand bucks on some undercard. What they are actually doing is putting on a premium event and getting paid handsomely for it under the guise of a tuneup fighting a lesser calibre fighter.
Those delusional gullible Joshua fan boys who believed Hearn would put Joshua in with Wilder Even a shot to smithereens Wilder is considered too dangerous for their glass jawed idol Joshua is only interested in fighting MMA fighters, YouTubers, Kickboxers, and Albanian Road Sweepers
"I want Deontay Wilder next after Miller." Anthony Joshua - 2019 "That's the fight Joshua wants. We just need this tuneup first. Wilder is next." - Eddie Hearn - 2019 "I want Deontay Wilder next after Ruiz." Anthony Joshua - 2019 "That's the fight Joshua wants. We just need this tuneup first. Wilder is next." - Eddie Hearn - 2019 "I want Deontay Wilder next after Franklin." Anthony Joshua - 2023 "That's the fight Joshua wants. We just need this tuneup first. Wilder is next." - Eddie Hearn - 2023 "I want Deontay Wilder next after the Whyte rematch." Anthony Joshua - 2023 "That's the fight Joshua wants. We just need this tuneup first. Wilder is next." - Eddie Hearn - 2023 "I want Deontay Wilder next after Helenius." Anthony Joshua - 2023 "That's the fight Joshua wants. We just need this tuneup first. Wilder is next." - Eddie Hearn - 2023 "I want Deontay Wilder next after Wallin." Anthony Joshua - 2019 "That's the fight Joshua wants. We just need this tuneup first. Wilder is next." - Eddie Hearn - 2023 "Ha. Ha. Wilder lost. I never thought he was world class." - Eddie Hearn 2023 "I want Deontay Wilder next before I fight Tyson Fury." Anthony Joshua - 2026 "Wilder will be Joshua's tuneup for Fury. Wilder is next." - Eddie Hearn - 2026 "Deontay Wilder is too risky." - Eddie Hearn 2026 But ... but ... they said he was fighting Wilder next.
I was expecting someone low risk like a Makhmudov level like a Ajagba, Wilder or Miller. This is even worse. However it seems we finally getting AJ vs Fury, should happened bears ago but better late than never.
Prenga is in the class action of HWs from AJs era who deserved a title shot and didn't get one but Prenga would probably lose. I remember he was supposed to fight Kabayel and pulled out and got replaced by Knyba and I thought Knyba was a substantial upgrade there.
Never even heard of this guy and whilst it's a poor quality opponent AJ is coming off a tragic car accident and the psychological trauma of losing two close friends, injury he sustained in the crash, has a new trainer and training team, it's a tune up for one of the biggest fights in boxing history and it would be dumb to risk jeopardizing that by facing a high level opponent, and he already has one of the best resumes in the HW division.
Everyone my age knows someone (or several) who have been killed in car accidents. I've had several family members, including a sister, killed in car accidents. I've been in two accidents myself where the car was totaled. It's scary, to be sure. When Spence was in a car crash and got thrown from his car, and his face was broken to pieces, I knew he'd never be the same. But what physical injuries did Anthony Joshua suffer in that car accident again? I'm asking. Because he was pretty much in the hospital overnight for observation and was out right away, correct? I understand the mental trauma of being in a crash where others die. But he walked away physically unscathed, didn't he? And Joshua is training with Usyk. And he's flying all over the world. And he's attending every major card. He seems totally immersed in fighting. He's not squeamish throwing punches or watching guys get their heads beaten in. He's sitting at ringside for it and he's in the gym all the time now. And he seems to have zero physical problems. So, from a empathy standpoint, I get why people say he needs to "heal" from the traumatic incident of the car crash. I've been there myself. But physically, there isn't anything AT ALL wrong with him, right? A fighter who breaks his hand in a fight and has surgery actually has to overcome more physical trauma than Joshua experienced. Right?