Just a little comparison to 2 ATG's, 2 of the best from the last 20-30 years and the 2 top HW's today. It should hopefully stop guys moaning about AJ's opponents. It's ridiculous. He's fought very good opposition in his first 11 fights. Much better than nearly any fighter out there today. Apart from the obvious Lomachenko, Rigo etc. Comparing his record to 6 heavyweights opponents records from various eras, for their first 11 fights, he has the 3rd highest number of opponent wins and the 3rd highest opponent win to fight ratio. AJ W 218 L 111 D 7 Win ratio= 65% Joe Louis W 240 L 71 D 17 Win ratio 73% Muhammed Ali W 219 L 88 D 13 Win ratio 68% Lennox Lewis W 164 L 112 D 11 Win ratio 57% Mike Tyson W 58 L 61 D 5 Win ratio 47% Wlad Klitschko W 112 L 116 D 12 Win ratio 46% Deontay Wilder W 34 L 39 D 10 Win ratio 41% It doesn't help show the quality as such. It's more of a yardstick to help show that people who say he's fought bums and cans rely do know little about the sport or how to develop a fighter.
Nick, an interesting post but saying AJ has fought some "very good" opponents in his first 11 fights is a real stretch. It is always going to be difficult to match AJ and get the right balance where he is active, learning, gaining experience and is actually being tested. A very difficult job but let's not kid ourselves some of these opponents are poor. Also have to add, I don't think people would complain half as much if he wasn't topping bills and having 15 minute build up on live TV and then the opponent walks out and everybody is asking " how long will this last" because they know it is not even slightly competitive. I blame TV and promoters for the negative responses AJ gets, poor opponents combined with over exposure will damage him. I'm not digging AJ out, he is doing as he is told, learning, building a record, gaining experience and people have to remember he took up boxing rather late but people have to be told the truth, and not have TV pundits and Promoters and even AJ himself saying the opponent is a "test" when its clearly not.
For a 11 fight novice in the heavyweight division, he has done nothing different to any great fighter of the past. Have been trying to tell people this for ages, but apparently stating a fact makes me a, I believe the words used were, Matchroom stooge. He hasn't fought anyone of quality, ad has not faced a good opponent, however for the level he is at, and with a short amateur career, he has fought reasonable opposition.
He has to be hyped though. Potentially millions to be made from him. They have to big him up as much as they can. That's just business. All I was doing was trying to show that in comparison to other top fighters his first 10 of so fights have been better than you think. He was always going to start slowly. Take his time and build up. What I hate is people saying he's fighting bums when nearly every other fighter out there fights guys with 4-65 record in their first 10 fights in this country. He tops the bill for s reason. People know him and like him. He's ways going to be the star attraction on a bill unless there's s real top fighter on the bill like froch or Khan
AJ has also fought the oldest average age 39/40 years old past their prime boxers out there who pose no risk.
Thank you!!! What people can't seem to work out is there is a huge difference between good opposition and works beaters. It depends where you are. AJ has had 11 fights over about a year and a half! Who should he be fighting? He is doing everything right. Over his next 4-6 fights he needs to step it up a little bit more against some better guys like Thompson, Johnson and Scott maybe and then see where he is at. There is nothing wrong with how he is being handled, matched and perceived by the public. They are making him into a future star of the sport and it requires certain things.
Nick, I agree with most of what you say to a point, AJ is doing nothing wrong. I do not blame AJ. I understand he needs to be promoted and they want to build a following, he is an Olympic gold medalist now an undefeated pro but they can do that without having him topping bills or having big build ups on TV for non competitive fights. I believe that's where the critics have a point, the over exposure for fights that are just not that good. But AJ is doing all he has to do at this stage of his career and Johnson in his next fight is a much better name and decent test for AJ. Also have to say Nick,a nice set of stats you rolled out there.
39/40 isn't really that far past your prime for a heavyweight. Just like 24/25 is before AJ's prime They may posses less risk than some slightly younger fighters but AJ posses less risk that s fighter in his prime too.
I think after Johnson they should be trying to make a few decent domestic fights for AJ. Dillian Whyte is the obvious onend even the likes of Chisora. At this early stage of his career I think domestic fights will be good for him. Better atmospheres and a little bit of needle. I think AJ beats them all domestically, but it makes it much more interesting than bringing over the Jason Gavern's of the world.
People have their strong and negative opinions of him because of the hype that Hearn and Matchroom are creating. Fights are okay but them saying he is fighting nobodies is a much greater compliment than they intend to give. He is doing everything as he should at the minute and as long as he takes care of business then I don't mind.
Cheers bro!! Slow day. Decided to stat it up!!! I honestly just think that this hype and build up with documentaries, headlining shows etc is really important. They don't have to do it but of they want him to become a huge name they do. Even now, the bigger name he is the more money they'll make. And to be fair about the hype, he is doing what he should be at this stage. Regardless of quality which as I e said I think is superior to most, he is blasting these guys out averaging 1 and a half rounds, and coming across like a nice guy in the process. Hardcore fans dont always like it as they like to disect everything just like we are doing now. But casual fans are lapping it up and casual fans are the key to success. Casual fans = stadiums, tv shows, fame, big fights and millions and millions of pounds!!!!! What they are doing is all about getting those casuals hooked and its working. Probably because they aren't really fooling the public. He is fighting decent guys when they say he is, he has a test when they say he has and they're doing it well.
Don't ever compare that thug to any ATG's/ The difference is, the ATG's didn't call themselves beasts after going through 11 cans. They kept their head down and got on with it, they didn't shoot their mouths off, or have their team call out other HW's who they weren't ready to fight. Get the fck off AJ's **** and realise in this moment in time he's a fcking fraud. And only a dumb ass casual will say he fought very good opposition. P.E teachers, cab drivers and bin men are not good opposition they are complete fcks who are unable to fight back against an professional trained athlete
Well done you managed to completely miss the point j was making. I was only comparing their level of opposition at the same time in their careers with the hope that maybe you may start to understand how he is being developed and maybe just understand the hype around him. It's s different sport than it was back then. With the amount of money at stake they have to build him as much as they can and get the casuals on board. The level of opposition has been very good for his first 11 fights. What do you expect him to fight? People just love to moan just as they do when you and underdog loses s close decision people cry robbery. Instead people really need to look at this in black and white. Just look at where he is ranked. Just cause he dealt a bit of weed when he was younger people think he's a ****. The fact is he's turned his life around and right now he is flying up the rankings and is regarded as one of the worlds hottest prospects.
Imagine the internet was about in the early 1960's and fights were televised as often as they are now, you'd have folk posting stuff like "that Cassius Clay fellow is a fraud, he's only beating down bums" etc While I'm not saying Joshua is anywhere near the level of the greats, He can only fight who's put in front of him. I just don't like the over the top hype he gets for beating past it journeymen.