Povetkin? Didn't win all the rounds. None of his fights seem like a consummate performance. Dominating the old pair of shoes like Pulev isn't anything to take pride in.
Fought afraid, didn't look comfortable at all. Stiff as a board & still got caught up in his cement high guard at points against a little technically OBESE man. Inside ability still poor as anything, especially against men who know how to fight there. He doesn't like to engage there.
If that's his best performance he is going to get shell shocked against Fury. Brutal mid fight stoppage like Wilder. The Wlad esque desperation clinches are always funny. Anyone who even mentions AJ's "inside ability" and hurr durr "uppercuts" as a factor for him to compete with Fury will get a wake-up call.
Instead I believe that after Ruiz 2 he has become more aware of his potential and for this reason he will face Fury at the top of his shape and concentration.
Too late for that Should have learned the beauty of sticking on the outside and the jab against the Dillian Whyte PUDDING years ago. Instead had a tussle and got clipped dangerously. For me his best performance was his early phase fight against Wlad till he blew his load over the wall and had the ropes holding him up gasping for air.
Sorry dude but, what is the point in you starting this thread if all you're going to do is shat on everyone's opinion? You hate Joshua and want Fury to get his first body bag filler against him, we get it. Back on topic, I was most impressed with Joshua against Povetkin and the win has actually aged well. Got off to a poor start, readjusted his game plan and took out a fighter who has never been stopped. Not bad. He was also punch perfect against Breazeale, a poor opponent now admittedly but at the time thought to give AJ a few problems. Just my opinion don't forget and yes, I favour Fury to beat Joshua aswell, I just think it will be a competitive fight..... SHOCK!
WK for me, first time his chin was truly tested, probably should have lost and dive deep for the finish in the later rounds. Followed by Pulev, Ruiz 2, Whyte and Povetkin.
With Wlad he was mentally prepared ... he knew that Wlad could knock him down at any moment ... in fact his reaction after the KD was prompt and effective. With Ruiz 1 he didn't expect his opponent to drop him in that stunning way. .. he was so taken aback that he was unable to react. With Ruiz 2 he learned not to underestimate his opponents and above all to contain the outbursts of a boxer with heavy and fast hands. Here's why Joshua of Fury could be the same of Wlad or even better.
For me, AJ's best performance is between Parker and Povetkin. Although the referee didn't allow any inside fighting from the pair, it was one of Joshua's more sharpened and disciplined performances. And as for the Povetkin fight, he was buzzed early but recovered well and broke down a dangerous puncher before taking him out in brutal fashion.
The Whyte win aged pretty well, he went on a little tear afterwards. Povetkin too, three solid results after losing to AJ so there must have been a good bit left in him. That's the thing with the Wlad win, since he lost before and retired after what did he really have left? Ruiz is just a disaster for him. If you had only ever seen those two fights, your jaw would drop if you then saw any of their others.