Anthony Joshua was never a good boxer or a special talent in the sports.

Athlete more than fighter is a good observation. But he's a hell of an athlete. He picked up the pieces when Fury left, and, there is no doubt that, until Fury came back, he was the best in the sport at heavy.

He will have a good legacy. And I hope he enjoys that retirement.

 

I don't recall many people on here banging on about how skilled Joshua is. I agree he's more of an athlete but I think you're underselling his skills a bit. You don't get to where he's got to if you're just an athlete but I get what you're saying though - his skillset is more manufactured, whereas Fury's is both taught and something innate within him, like with all of the best in their respective sports.

 

LOL That's like saying the only reason that Kenyan won the marathon is because the other runners gassed out. Being in shape and training to see a fight to the end is part of the sport. Why you use that as a negative towards AJ is bordering on shear hate.

 

Agreed. He was a matchroom creation. His resume was never as good as some claim.

 

Tbh I kinda agree with the fact that he is more of an athlete than a boxer but come on how could you say he isn’t a good boxer when he has defeated guys like Charles, Klitschko, Ruiz, Parker, Pulev etc. He may not be an all time great but he is certainly a very good fighter and one of the best HW’s of this generation.

 

What’s him being gassed got to do with anything. So your saying if a fighter gets tired then whatever his opponent does doesn’t matter because he’s tired? Stamina is part of the sport him being gassed is his problem and cannot be used to discredit AJ.

 

Lol your deluded.

 

There's plenty of athletes who were more athletic than skilled. What's your point?

 

I watched AJ live very early on in his amateur career. He looked like a complete novice with 2 left feet and really robotic. What he did have going for him though was raw power, he was stopping seasoned amateurs with ease.

 

AJ is definitely more of an athlete than boxer, but you’re overrating the hell out of Fury

 

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If Fury did not decide to go become the KFC, alcohol, Columbian marching powder champion with supposed mental health problems, rather than being the fighting man he claims to be and kept hold of the championship belts then AJs name would hardly be mentioned in boxing history.

But alas Fury took the former route which mean't AJ took his opportunity and good luck to the guy, is AJ a ATG in comparison to many of the previous champions, in my opinion no, is he a natural in the fight game again no, but gawd he has been bloody successful, banked the millions upon millions he has earned, has defended the titles and still might regain them, well a few of them anyway.

 

People have a misconception about what being a "good athlete" means.

For a start it's relative to the sport in question. Usain Bolt can run a great 100M and 200M but put him on the soccer field and he's useless. The attributes required to succeed in different sports are not uniform.

Secondly it's not about having a ripped physique and this can in fact be detrimental to performance. Sumo wrestlers and shot putters are extremely powerful but there isn't a six-pack in sight.

Thirdly, AJ may run a fast 100M for a boxer, he may be very good at lifting weights or whatever for a boxer but this doesn't mean he has: footspeed, agility, engine, durability, mental toughness, IQ etc., at least not on the level of the best in the sport. Before the Usyk fight, we kept hearing that AJ was the "superior athlete" but there was scant evidence for that claim in the ring. Bellew is still insistent to this day that AJ has more speed than Usyk, contrary to what everyone's eyes were telling them.

 

He is/was relative to the weak era he finds himself performing in.