Exposed or Proven

Exposed.

I really didn't expect AJ to have so much trouble, as I firmly believe Wlad is "shot to ****."

Just look at how much trouble Jennings gave Wlad two years ago. And Jennings was a school janitor.

 

Its weird,he gassed but a lot was to do with the shots he took but in round 10 and 11 he looked fresher than in the 1st

 

He ticked a lot of boxes for me. Proved he had stamina a long fight, proved he could take a big shot and comeback, showed late power, didn't fold under the atmosphere. He's still very young, he'll only get better from here.

 

He has too much muscle mass. The more muscle you have the more energy you burn.

 

A bit of both. Too much to say 'exposed', I think. I mean let's get this right - this was not the same Wlad who fought Fury. He looked light on his feet, good head movement and came to fight instead of endlessly clinching. If the Fury fight had not happened we would have been gushing. So let's get some perspective - a still green novice just brutally knocked out the greatest heavyweight of the last decade and a half. And he answered questions that needed to be answered. That shot that dropped him would have stiffed anyone with a glass chin, so we can now say he has a decent chin and great heart to come back, too. He looked out on his feet at the end of round 5 but surprised me with how he came on strong late.

All in all, more positives than negatives, by a long way.

 

It definitely didn't prove he's the best, it made Fury's win look even better

No way was it an exposure, it proved he will go to hell and back, Wlad hit him with some terrific shots and he took them and survived

 

He answered a lot of questions. He may not be the best, but he's up there, I think only a fit Fury definitely beats him at the moment. He showed he belongs at the top level. He showed he can go late in the fight and still be relatively fresh and still have knock out power. He showed tremendous heart to go from being out on his feet to being victorious and he showed he has a decent chin, he took some huge shots during that fight.

The only thing that was exposed was that he's still really inexperienced. Wlad was able to back him up regularly by doing little but pressing, he fought too cautiously for long periods even when he was winning, he allowed Wlad space to set all too often. But he will improve and get better.

 

Plenty of flaws... But he proved himself as the #1 HW in the current landscape with that performance. Who beats him? Parker and Wilder are the only other guys who have a shot at this stage, and both have only a punchers chance at best.

 

That was the best version of Wladimir that I've seen in 5 years, he was prepared for this fight and had a great game plan. AJ took the famed WK right hand flush while he was severely fatigued and still got up to win.

Joshua also showed that he carries his power and the ability to finish right into the 11th and probably the 12th round.

Once he's absorbed the lessons from this fight he'll be even better!

 

I've never seen Wlad move like that. I was very impressed. But then again I've seen Wlad be chinny like that more than once. The guy can't take a shot. So I'm impressed with AJ but not TOO impressed. I think Wilder has that monster right hand but Joshua is the better fighter overall. JOSHUA is king though. Wilder to fight on his terms no choice

 

It looked a monster of a punch in a slow-mo replay, it would have definitely KO'd most HW IMO

 

I have always thought he had a poor chin. but not any more he took a couple of monstrous punches that would have floored most HWs. but he does need to pace himself better.

 

A younger Wlad would have destroyed Joshua.

 

Let's get this right. Klit is nearly 42. Fury of the klit fight toys with the weightlifter.

 

I think everyone is underestimating the nervous tension energy that was used up before the fight. He may look calm externally but I thought there was a lot of nerves before hand (a couple of key tell moments). There's no doubt that nervous tension was in the first few rounds. After he was rocked and got himself together in the 8th he seemed to relax and the stamina was there to back it up. Now there's a lot of issues with flexibility and hip movement I really think he needs to address over power lifting but his heart was on display and he beat an old but very prepared Wlad tonight. That, for me, means he's now fully arrived.