AJ v Klitschko 2....

Because their ranking systems are evidently flawed. Eddie has done a fantastic job with Miller, promoting him and padding his record, moving up the rankings. But when you dissect Miller's resume, it's all hot air. Really, really poor resume he has. Surely you agree?

Hearn has planned this from the day he signed Miller. He knows how the ranking systems work and frankly, it's great business getting AJ an easy fight v a top ten guy in the states. Really great promotional work in fairness.

However, when you break it down, you can see Miller doesn't deserve the shot. Whyte, Pulev and Ortiz are obviously much more deserved. Ortiz would've been a good fight for an American debut and a big statement.

 

I came to post something about Klitschko but feel like I'm changing the subject, despite the thread title being AJ vs Klitschko 2 Lol.

Anyway, I don't think there's any boxer I would like to see come out of retirement, but Klitschko might be the exception. Yes, he won't be as good as he used to be, but even a faded Klitschko improves the division, probably still beats most of the top 10. I'd probably even pick him to beat Wilder. We know he lives a clean life. He's fit and healthy even if he is in his forties. He might not be able to rule the division again but if he has the hunger for another fight, I wouldn't be totally against it. Look at George Foreman and Bernard Hopkins, both were still enjoying success in their forties. I think Klitschko fits the mould to be the type of character who could do the same. The man oozes professionalism and discipline. Klitschko vs Whyte would be a good fight I think. I like Klitschko vs Usyk too.

 

Agreed. Big josh can’t take the flack for this, it’s clear he has no say in who he fights and when. Guy is an old school fighter who does as he’s told.

 

Not sure how the Ring ranking system is necessarily that flawed to be fair.

Joshua has already beaten Whyte very easily. I don't get much difference between Miller and Ortiz. Joshua signed to fight Pulev but Pulev got injured so hey ho. As I said though, who's available?

 

You brought up three to five. Why? You must know you wouldn't be able to bring up anyone who got near five fights a year. It's not like Miller is the worst guy to get a shot either is it. As far as the rankings go:

Joshua can't fight himself
Wilder fighting Fury
Fury fighting Wilder
Whyte already easily beaten by Joshua
Parker already easily beaten by Joshua
Breazeale already easily beaten by Joshua
Povetkin already easily beaten by Joshua
Ortiz fighting Hammer

Who else?

 

I'd rather be had the tune up vs Whyte or Miller first. If he doesn't win that handsomely then hang em back up.

 

Who’s your top 10 heavyweights Tony? Genuinely would be interested to know. Honest personal opinion.

 

Joshua
Fury
Wilder
Whyte
Povetkin
Parker
Ortiz
Pulev
Miller
Breazeale

Reasoning; Joshua is clearly well in front based on who he's beaten and how he's beaten them. I don't rate Wilder as highly as some and would pick Fury to beat him in a rematch hence their positions. Whyte is pretty much where he is on the basis of the Parker fight but he's evidently getting better.

I feel you then enter a run of fighters who can be quite tricky to seperate. Ortiz for example has lost to, in my opinion, the weakest of the big three, is very old, and his best win is who? Bryant Jennings? Pulev was easily beaten by Wlad, is very inactive, his recent form isn't great (I think Hughie is garbage and Johnson was ancient.) Strange that whilst it's natural that people want to see the top two fight, none of the top 4-10 seem too keen to fight each other.

Ultimately Miller is pretty weak in terms of opposition, but are Washington, Duhaupas, Wach and Adamek really that much different to what we've seen before? Let's not forget Tyson Fury got a crack after beating Hammer, Abell, Chisora and Cunningham. Pulev himself essentially got the Wlad fight on the basis of beating a very old Tony Thompson. Povetkin actually had very similar fights to Miller before Joshua; Wach and Duhaupas as well as Hammer and Price.

 

Pretty straightforward for me when comparing resumes, looking at who has the best wins objectively I have it SOMETHING like this:

FURY unbeaten Wilder in his own backyard

FURY eleven year unbeaten unified undisputed super champ VLAD in his own backyard

WILDER unbeaten Ortiz

FURY Prime delboy Chisora x2

JOSHUA shot old Alec Povetkin

JOSHUA shot old retired winless in three years never fought again grey haired saggy backed VLAD

FURY Steve Cunningham in his own backyard

Then you have a whole host of division two Fodder Christian hammer Chris arroeola joe Parker fat green whyteleafe et al

All depends how much you want to scrape the barrel to prove a point

 

He wins fights and has avoided the harder challenges. That's why that and Brown envelopes will sort out his ranking.

 

So back to back win’s against Dinu and sparking out a 42 year old man who you out weigh by 100 pounds gets you a title fight Jesus Christ.

I know every heavyweight world champion has some weak names on there resume and some filler but miller ain’t even a Mando he’s just a fat chump.

 

Who should he fight? Povetkin, Whyte, Parker, Breazeale: all already easily beaten.

WIlder, Fury, Pulev, Ortiz: all fighting other opponents.

Who are you left with?

 

So they all had opponents as far back as September ok then Tony.

Since September it’s been a mess and then only misstep since in an other wise brilliantly guided and managed career so far.

 

The only two opponents who matter had opponents, and they fought, drew and are fighting again. Everyone beyond that is much of a muchness or Joshua has already beaten easily.

You're not telling me that a Parker rematch or something of that ilk would get people talking are you? You'd be criticising him regardless as it's a rematch of a comprehensive beating that nobody has expressed any interest in.

 

I’d mostly agree. This would be my ranking

Joshua (cos he has 3 of 4 belts)
Wilder (he wrongly has the other)
Fury (should be WBC holder)
Whyte
Ortiz
Pulev
Povetkin
Parker
Kownacki
Kabayel

I genuinely couldn’t put Miller or Breazeale in my top 10 rankings. I don’t rate either of them. I know you (and others) have said that he’s already ironed out Whyte but when you consider the context, I think that shouldn’t stop him having another shot. The first fight there was talk that Whyte’s shoulder was still injured and it was for a British title. Both fighters have improved and are now operating at world level. I think AJ’s team should have had a rematch with him. It would have been a big selling fight and you’d have had to say that Whyte has legitimate power to hurt Joshua should he have landed sweet. I just can’t get excited about Miller, he doesn’t deserve his ranking. Hearn has done a fantastic job of smoothing his transition into the rankings but he just doesn’t impress me. I just think that this should have all been sorted months back instead of banking on Wilder to knock out Fury and then signing him up to the fight in April.