The quality of opponent is going to be to big a gap for AJ to bridge imo. I mean Whyte has been his best opponent to date. I don't think he will know what to do if Klitschko gets that jab working.
Ali before Foreman laboured with Dutch heavyweight Ruddi Lubbers. I'd say all Ali needed was motivation, likewise Wladimir.
Fury was clowning wladimir for months before the fight, if that wasnt motivation enough i dont know what is. Jennings was the first time wladimir fought in the states for years, wasnt it free on american TV or hbo? either way it was big chance to get the yanks on his side. looked pretty average.
Vlad had NEVER faced the likes of Fury before. Joshua brings absolutely nothing that he hasn't seen and dealt with before. Every Aj supporter including his team is banking on a shot old man klitschko. A very dangerous mindset to have imo. And a game plan to match. Walk through the gun shy chinny shot old man and knock him out........
They think he's going to club Wlad away with that big right hand like all the other bums he's been fed.
That right hand is literally all that Joshua has ever relied on in his fights. That and impressive handspeed. He jabbed well against Martin but it's ****ing Charles Martin, Tony Bellew would have chinned him.
When Vlad was sparring Joshua in camp, not too long ago, Vlad totally outclassed Joshua..............how much has Joshua improved and how much has Vlad gone down hill, but from watching Vlad train, spar.............looks as if the Vlad that fought Fury will not be there, he is up for this fight. Vitali said that if Vlad is focused, he will win the fight easily..................Vlad has the footwork, faster feet, stamina, defense, balance, is more relaxed, more experienced by far, Vlad has the power, fans forget that Vlad is a very powerful puncher..............Vlad was not focused in the Fury fight, would have knocked Fury out in the rematch, Fury hardly landed a punch on Vlad...............if Whyte can hurt/stagger Joshua, then Vlad can knock him out.................Vlad is a little taller than Joshu also, you will see, I like Vlad's lateral movement, his head movement has been great in camp. Vlad will be a difficult fighter to hit, go back and watch Vlad Vs. Shufford in Vegas, you will see the shortest left hook in boxing history, only traveled a few inches, knocked Shufford out with it.................Vlad had a very powerful left hook, hook off the jab, power jab, straight right hand, looping right, right hook, has quickness, great counter-puncher, if Vlad is anything like he used to be, he will knock Joshua out and there will be a big money rematch as in in the contract.................everyone thinks it will be a first or second knockout for Joshua, a walk in the park for Joshua, I don't see that happening, and if it goes into the late rounds, Vlad will have the advantage, but Joshua does not have anything to lose, he has the rematch clause........................This could be teacher Vs. student..................
Rubbish.. Wlad doesn't have the footwork to deal with Fury.. For the first time in years, he didn't have the physical advantages to get into his routine. Fury out maneuvered him took the jab away and Wlad after that didn't know what to do. Witness Wlad being spun and then being surprised when a punch came his way. The rematch would have been similar. Wlad couldn't put Jennings away who stood in front of him for large portions of the fight with ear muffs on. A worrying sign add in age and training camps and you begin to wonder what state wlad will be in. He looks great but so have countless fighters over the years who have rolled the dice one last time. That said Wlad isn't fighting Fury he's fighting AJ who can't move like Fury of Wlad... So AJ has to come up with a way to disrupt the jab if he doesn't and Wlad get's into his groove he will get beat. AJ could just try jabbing with Wlad hoping the activity makes him gun shy. But I can't see him relying on that. So for me has to be first and when the opportunity comes to try some hard counters early and maybe even be prepared to work inside. AJ is happy to throw combinations and that good be a tick in his favour. He also has to do something about Wlad's hugging game which has come to rely on more and more - if AJ can bring an uppercut or body shots (a big ask we haven't seen any sign on them yet)- into play and Wlad isn't able to close the gap that could be very interesting. AJ also had to be mindful on defense, made a little easier by the fact Wlad doesn't do much to the body. The left hook is a threat as is the right hand. We all saw what happen V Whyte but this is boxing. Wlad has been hit and hurt plenty of times. It's a very very close fight - a fighter at 41 is rarely as good as he was in his 20's or 30's..fighters are competing at higher levels for longer but is Wlad really going to sit on the back foot all night? I doubt it. He isn't going to change his style now but it might just be too soon for AJ. If the fight goes late as a big and as wooden as he is i dont see him winning.
Wlad was never that good in his prime. His record flatters to deceive, propped up by the weakest era ever seen in heavyweight boxing. Wlad's reign will go down in history as the most boring of all time, where he, along with his brother held the heavyweight titles hostage, fighting one hopeless contender after another. Fury exposed Wlad for what he is - a superheavyweight bully who built a career fighting much smaller men. Joshua will finish the job Fury started.
I think Joshua needs to pounce on him ASAP, he's not going to outbox Wlad or stop him late. Wlad is terrified of getting hit and Joshua will wipe him out if be jumps on him, if it goes past 5 rounds Wlad will knock Joshua out IMO.
I see an ending similar to bruno V witherspoon/smith to be honest. AJ just does not have the experience to handle even this version of Wlad. Wlad will pepper him all night with that jab, AJ may well have his moments, but not enough to beat Wlad, he will gas and badly, Wlad will bide his time and stop him in about seven. This fight has come a shade to early for AJ sadly, although i hope he can pull it off, just can't see it.