Which HW has shown the most HEART in the ring?

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Dr Penfold explained it all for us afterwards.

Apart from the first one that wobbled him, Joshua wasn’t even getting hit with big shows that night. Speed and combinations (ironic from a 20 stone midget) knackered him out and he didn’t want to do it anymore. The 3rd and 4th knockdowns weren't power punches, he just threw himself to the floor, spat out his gum shield and quit.

 

Wilder by a country mile.

There’s a thin line between bravery and stupidity and I think that line is invisible in Wilders case.

AJ Ruiz was embarrassing, I know upsets happen in the HW division but this has to be classed as the most embarrassing. AJ was sang into the weigh in by a choir, went on US TV and spoke about Wilder saying “come see me” then said he’s all about coming to a fighters back yard and knocking them out, that’s how he handles his business.
Wore his Ali robe and mimicked Ali/Tyson movements on his walk. It was pretty bad.

 

I'm an AJ fan but Wilder easily for me

 

only counts if you're wearing Under Armour as well.

 

This is just yet another dig at Joshua thread lol Obviously it's Wilder.

 

Wilder was running on fumes at times in both the 2nd and 3rd Fury fights whilst being put down numerous times and still kept swinging.

Showed serious bottle.......but the excuses after the 2nd fight made him look a right helmet.

 

I think he showed heart by beating the count 4 times, yes.
Though, handpicked on two weeks notice is a new one. 10 days before the fight was officially announced on May 1st, Ruiz had beaten Dimintrenko. He then had 31 days, same as Joshua, to prepare for his June 1st opponent. It's also worth remembering, that Ruiz Jr. being a challenger will have watched Joshua far more than Joshua will have watched him. So, who had the advantage there?

I don't recall Joshua bullying Ruiz Jr. I do remember Ruiz Jr. winning the pre-fight mind games. He played the role of the friend who was just happy to be there very well. I agree that Joshua made a big mistake thinking Ruiz would be a push over. Imho, Joshua tried to rush in and finish Ruiz not seeing that his eyes were crystal clear when he got up from the KD. To me it was Joshua trying to match Wilder's statement KO over Breazeale. Unfortunately, Andy has a great chin, and Joshua got caught with a very good shot and stayed hit for the remainder of the fight. And beat the count 4 times despite that.

 

Nothing was, or could probably ever, be as bad as Joshua's rant on the microphone after the second Usyk schooling. That was genuinely hard to watch. The man is as thick as two short planks.

 

Don't engage with the troll and Fury fanboy. You made a lot of valid points. The vast majority of the British Forum hate on Joshua and find any reason to criticise him. When he beats Whyte people will still criticise him and give him no credit. He could get in the ring with Wilder and lose and people would still not appreciate him getting in the ring with both Usyk and Wilder in the space of 18 months.

Joshua could have easily chosen Trevor Bryan instead of Ruiz which people forget. Their first choice was Luis Ortiz but Ortiz's management and lawyers cost him the fight which he himself has said. People also forget that Joshua did knockdown Ruiz first but got overconfident and was reckless.

 

That was one of the few times I can genuinely say I've cringed watching something. However, Wilder's excuses were insane. He basically brought the whole sport into disrepute for months following his defeat. There's never been anything like that. Joshua's microphone rant looked like a childish strop in comparison to what Wilder was co-signing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Breland getting death threats because Wilder couldn't accept a loss?

 

Joshua does seem to bring it out of people. I remember how there was a lot of people jumping on the idea that Joshua v Usyk 1's round 12 had been deliberately ended 10 seconds early, and that Hearn could be seen signalling the time-keeper to end the fight or some such. But the reality being, the round from bell to bell was accurate, and the ten second warning was also accurate. It was the TV clock that was behind.

Joshua Derangement Syndrome.

 

I thought of the suit thing, but from your comment remembered a lot more. The glove thing and the channels on YouTube. I remember a lot of racial narratives being brought in to it from Wilder's fans in America. That was bad. The Breland thing I forgot about too. Not as cringeworthy but in sentiment much worse, actually!

 

I've noticed this is a common theme when Joshua loses, people saying 'well he could have fought someone else'. After his 2 losses to Usyk it was 'well he could have vacated his belt'. Every fighter who's ever lost a fight could have fought someone else.