As usual recency bias gets in the way. AJ at his best was elite I would even favor current AJ over Wardley. Wardley is good tough with good power but AJ has thunderous power especially in his right hand. Wardley has some good KO's but AJ has legit sent many fighters to the shadow realm. AJ also is a better boxer with a better kit of punches, in his prime he stops Wardley within 7 rounds.
I agree with a lot of the posts here saying Joshua would win but Wardley has that dog in him the AJ never had.
What makes Wardley have a better chin than Joshua? Joshua took Whyte's left hook flush, the same one that knocked out Chisora. Whyte hits a lot harder than Frazer Clarke. Parker didn't hurt Joshua once, either. The right that Wlad dropped Joshua with would've likely dropped Wardley as well. I do like Fabio, and he's a warrior who is fun to watch, but I'm not sure where this idea that he has some cast-iron chin has come from. He has not faced a world-level puncher.
AJ vs Parker was a timid fight with not many heavy shots landing compared to this burn burner with Wardley taking flush shots often.
Joshua may be able to outbox him, but Wardley has a good chin, stamina, is durable and stays in fights well in which he’s losing, things that Joshua doesn’t do/have. Wardley sets up that right over the top well by throwing hard bodyshots first, and we’ve seen Joshua caught by that, and Wardley does it with power. If he can land one of those late in the fight when Joshua is slowing down, he absolutely could stop him. I favour Joshua narrowly with the better fundamentals to gain Wardley’s respect and outbox him, with some rocky moments throughout, especially late on.
Joshua was a beast he he was coming up and full of confidence. far more proven than Wardley (thus far)
I'd back current AJ to beat Wardley, let alone prime AJ. The reason for this is that, love him or hate him, AJ has legit power that's been tested at world level. This is something Wardley hasn't faced yet, and as Joyce showed there's only so much punishment you can take before someone Zhangs you to the canvas. Of course, there's always a chance Wardley pulls it off. Man has heart and grit in spades.
Wardley would soak up AJ's big punches and keep fighting. AJ would get discouraged and lose. That's pretty much exactly what happened when AJ fought Andry Ruiz: Ruiz took everything he had, even getting knocked down, and came back strong. I would expect a similar performance from Wardley.
Nor do we know about the vice-versa. Adeleye may be the best pure puncher he's faced...Parker the best combo of a boxer-puncher. Neither are exactly like getting hit by AJ.
Hahaha these idiots saying current aj would beat Wardley LOL No version of aj beats a motivated Wardley. If they fought for a world title Wardley is blasting him into next year just like Dubois did
Never followed the logic that Joshua is some murderous puncher. He has good power, but it's not elite power.
He's hit or miss as a puncher. He seems to have increased his power, but sacrificing speed and stamina.
Joshua by cold, clinical KO. You can't 'wear' AJs punches like Huni's or Parker's. Different animal. And its not just about the power. Prime AJ is leagues above anyone Wardley has fought. He'd outbox Wardley, set him up and finish him. Wardley is a live dog, he always is. But. Levels.