Aj what level is he actually at?

good post

 

Pulev, Povetkin, Ortiz, Haye or Parker.

He holds a world title, that means he's at world level. All this rubbish from EH about him "still learning" is void now that he holds a world title.

Time to take the stabilisers off!

 

It's tough to tell, it really is.

I don't think he's had to go in to his locker and bring his skills out because of the level of opponent he's been in with, he wasn't massively impressive last time out against Breazeale. People rave about Joshua's power, while he obviously has a huge punch, he landed big on Whyte and didn't drop him until the 7th when he was gassed out and didn't drop Breazeale until the 7th who has been dropped and wobbled by lesser fighters.

We'll notknow how good he is until he takes a step up, after he blows Molina out in a couple of rounds, even the "casuals" who he lives off might start asking when he'll fight some one who fights back. He's got to have a big fight next summer, whether it's Haye, Klit, Povetkin or Wilder it HAS to happen.

 

Anthony Joshua is a very good prospect. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he became a genuine proven world class heavyweight, or a genuine world champion and put together a good reign.
On the other hand, good prospects like that don't always make it, so if he fails to do it that wouldn't surprise me at all either.
Fortunately for him, he's made plenty of money already and will make plenty more, win, lose or draw.

 

If he has to avoid a washed-up overrated injury-prone has-been like David Haye, he certainly can't be described as "the real deal".

I think AJ is still very unproven but I'd fully expect him to beat Haye, which wouldn't prove a lot either.

 

Haye is all wrong for joshua. Hayes always had a boxing brain constantly looking to set things up. He ll walk joshua into traps.

The only other one would have been fury who would genuinely outbox him if he turned up how he did against klitchko not happening tho. Outside of that your looking at wilder with a lucky haymaker at best. Parker and Ortiz will be interesting. Klitchko might get him under control behind the jab as per usual.

Outside of that joshua is pretty much ready. He is the best heavyweight prospect out there. Probably even further on that wilder think hes finished a couple of guys quicker than him as well. After molina its got to be one of these guys. He d pretty much beat the rest right now let alone 5 or 6 fights time.

Actually think the molina fight might be more interesting than people think depending on how he bounces back from the wilder defeat he took some big bombs in that fight. But hes got half decent power and does have an offence unlike martin and breazeale. Its all if he can stand up to joshuas offence for any length of time...getting out them first few rounds which lets be honest isnt a guarantee for anyone.

The only one i d back to beat him with a lot of confidence would be haye tho.

 

It's always pure fantasy with David Haye though.
While he's using his boxing brain looking to set things up, he's probably going to be getting oupointed or knocked the f--k out.

At this age, at this stage, in his condition etc. .... there's a huge question mark whether he can even go 4 or 6 round with a world class fighter or an up-and-coming prospect.
He's finished, face it.
And he never did much at HW anyway.

 

I've always tried to make this point. In all honesty, he's not OVERLY proven at HW. Even less so considering he hasn't had a genuine fight for years

 

I dont think he ll need rounds for joshua. I m saying he catches him and knocks him out early. Hes purring like a cat when commentating on joshua fights. Cause he knows theres holes to his game. Spoke about joshuas predictability in his last fight against breazeale as one example. Whyte also showed up flaws in josh,s game. They will cost him against haye.

Another one is joshuas up for a fight...its like hes been looking for a challenge since he got going in the pro ranks...which showed in the whyte fight. Its an asset but it can also become your biggest liability. Even klitchko didnt take haye on head on...joshua whos a big powerful unit has no other option. The problem with that is haye sets you up. Joshua too predictable for haye.

Got to ask yourself why if haye is a busted flush...hearn hasnt got him in for december the 10th. Hes spoke about how all the good guys are pre occupied. Went through about 20 potential opponents some busy some not. And yet doesnt mention haye. It cant be because hes not a big enough challenge cause price has been considered.

 

Joshua is too limited and green for David Haye.

Haye, who has WORLD CLASS head movement AND power, would make Joshua miss and probably body-bag him within 3.

 

It's a lot to ask of David Haye to knock AJ out early.
I mean, Haye in his prime needed 9 rounds to finish Ruiz off, despite having him down in the first 40 seconds.

Everyone has holes in his game. I can sit "purring like a cat" commentating on AJ fights pointing out his weaknesses. I could sit around explaining how to beat him. Doesn't mean much.
We can easily sit around talking about massive holes in Haye's game too, PRIME Haye, nevermind the untested Haye who is fighting how.

Haye was equally vocal about knowing how to dismantle and 'malfunction' Klitschko, and failed miserably.
Did you buy into the talk back then too?

I suspect AJ is too big and too fast. It's easy to sit on the safe side of the ropes talking about him being predictable, but if Haye gets in there it's a different matter.
Haye was never particularly fast on his feet, and nowadays he's slow and has less upper body movement. All he has left is some decent hands and power, but we might guess AJ beats him in that area now.

Well, either Eddie Hearn is listening too much to people like you, or he is waiting and letting that kind of buzz gather for a big summer fight. Maybe he thinks Haye's a risk. Maybe he has other business reasons.
I don't think Haye's much risk.
Haye's done nothing since Chisora, that's over 4 years ago.
If AJ is anywhere remotely near world class he should dispatch Haye quite easily.

I don't really think Haye deserves the payday and I don't think AJ beating him will prove much at all but with so many opinions similar to yours knocking around I'm almost hoping we'll see it.
To see if I'm wrong.

 

Another pro-Haye opinion which I can't find any basis for in Haye's entire career.

Haye never had the skillset people seem to attribute to him.
Haye's movement now is going to be clearly lacking, with extra weight and injuries and age, and he never managed to combine his defensive game effectively with his offense. A sloppy finisher too, relative to how his fans seem to view him.

Joshua has hand-speed and good refexes, a sharp young fighter, size advantage, fitness, an almost injury-free history, he has youth.
I think AJ might be grossly overrated but I can't see any evidence to have him losing to David Haye.
It's crazy how Haye's STILL rated this highly, and a bit strange how he ever was rated as high as he was.

 

Good read unforgiving. Personally rate haye highly myself...always have. Pretty much everyone hes went with the intention of taking out with the exception of thompson he has. Which came a bit too early for him. And a lot of the time early at that. Valuev and klitchko hes turned up with a game plan thats not really been about taking them out. Probably due to the fact valuev was too big and klitchko was a bit too good and too big for him and fought to a very good game plan.

People talk about barrett and ruiz but they were both up and down like a prostitutes knickers through the 5 and 9 rounds respectively they were both pretty proven as being pretty durable heavyweights. Same with chisora. Valuev was hurt badly in the 12th he only hit him with a few clean punches. Mcarannelli was demolished. Momeck was folded. Hayes got big big one punch power bigger than aj,s for me. And hayes always been at his best when guys throw punches at him which not many do. Hes a very good counter puncher. Valuev was just far too big and klitchko fought a very good tactical fight with steward in his corner. Joshuas not valuev big or as disciplined as klitchko is. Joshua will throw punches. And thats when things will go south for him.

Dont get me wrong i rate joshua he is the best heavyweight prospect in the world. But haye is the wrong style for him. And haye knows it cause its there to see. He wont outbox haye on the backfoot as joshua is a decent enough boxer but hes not spectacular will struggle with hayes footwork. But joshuas strength is coming out and taking it to opponents...thats where he shines. Ultimately that style plays right into hayes hands. Joshuas biggest strength is exactly what haye wants. Honestly imo i think he takes him out within four rounds and he wont take many shots doing it. Not because joshuas not very very good but hayes a nitemate for his style. Tbf hayes a nightmare for most styles. Thats where i disagree with you about haye...i see him as one of britains most skilled fighters. His biggest flaws are hes a bit chinny and hes too naturally small to be as effective against the big men who are very good stamina maybe but its more like groves. Their staminas not bad its more because nearly every shots a power shot.

I genuinely think with what i ve seen of joshua his defensive reflexes arent good. Plus hes one of them guys that when he does start getting hit he ll fall apart quickly. Hayes a little bit like that. Their chin legs etc abandon them. Unlike say ruiz who was pretty durable considering what he took throughout his career. Very few will be able to withstand joshua but guys that can and then get their own shots off will cause whyte type problems. If you go back and watch the whyte fight he caught josh with a good shot. Which any heavyweight can get done with he actually came through a test there. But i think whyte hit him with a body shot not long after it. He looked like his body was about to give out on him. Joshuas got plenty of fight in him mentally but its the only real punches hes been hit with. It reminds me of bruno for an example just not as bad. His chins not bad by the looks of it but everything will go at the same time. Legs brain power stamina etc I m convinced of it.

Haye does have a bit of that in him to. But hes pretty hard to catch clean. Isnt that easy to pin down. I see haye as the more skilled fighter of the two. Joshuas pretty basic but fundamentally sound enough. Bit too robotic tho. Plus them big arms of his are gonna be one of his biggest weaknesses. They come down. He cant keep them up for long enough. His footworks also robotic.

Sticking with my prediction haye within 4 rounds. Easier than people think.

 

Good response, bbjc.

The fact that we can have such reasoned but conflicting opinions on Haye's abilities and chances against Joshua does in fact make it an interesting potential fight.
I mean, I expect it to go more or less opposite to your prediction, ie. an easy win for AJ.
I wouldn't even give AJ an awful lot of credit for the win. AJ would still have a lot to prove.

I'd be happy to be proved correct ..... and being proved wrong would make for a very entertaining and interesting fight.