Prime joshua vs prime tua? Who wins and why?

Agree. 100%

I’m not even sure Joshua beats the heavy version of Tua who Lewis faced in 2000.

 

Winnable fight either way, I think the Ruiz comparison is valid but Tua packs much more of a wallop than the hand-speed and combinations focused Ruiz Jr. AJ has a tendency to sit down and fight when he should box, and his defense is lacking at times. My heart tells me that Tua would find a huge left hook and I don't think many men in history could take a huge left from Tua and come back to win. Tua TKO 9

 

Joshua can dish it out, but Tua can dish it and take it.

Tua by KO

 

I think Josh can win this on points if we are talking prime v prime. Prime AJ is a good enough boxer and both athletically and physically strong enough to keep Tua at distance yet exert a level of control if Tua does get inside. He'd have to box like a poor man's Wlad, maybe box like he did in one of his dullest fights v Parker, but I think AJ wins a clear but competitive decision.

 

AJ from Ruiz 2 should win a boring decision.

 

This shows a flaw with AI.
It may be accurate to slightly favor AJ.
But the verdict of if he wins it will be a TKO is very unlikely.
With all those Tua fought, including past his peak, & when head hunting instead of his earlier high volume punching where he collaberated on a couple of the HW fights at or near the top of punches landed, who every stopped him?

Even if AJ fights smart enough to take the fight, any cause to believe that he, unlike guys that are much better like Lewis, will stop Tua?
And Tua allegedly had a serratus muscle injury then. If so, he was dumb to go on with the fight.
But who here things that AJ would be the first to *stop* Tua?

 

I think Tua gets a bit overrated on this forum.

Maskaev boxed his head off for 11 rounds.

Rahman outboxed him twice clearly behind the jab and Tua had to hit Rahman after the bell and get a quick stoppage to win their 1st meeting.

Tua didn't show in his career that he could deal with a Heavyweight who jabbed him at range. He would also sleep walk through fights at times losing numerous rounds.

Of course Tua could catch Joshua late on and knock him out he's dangerous at any point in the fight.

But I think Joshua could outbox Tua fighting smartly like he did vs Ruiz the 2nd time.

If Rahman can shut down Tua at range with the jab then Joshua certainly can.