We know his resume isn't amazing but does he have the skills to in the top 10 pound for pound eventually? I'm only asking because I really haven't had the chance to watch him live or really see what he's about. Very interested in watching his bout saturday with molina though. I want to see if he can knock him out quicker than wilder did.
enough skill & power to beat most of the top 10, if his stamina is proven, he will be the new ruler of the heavyweight division, that ofc if fury stays fat lazy and retired.
I think very good. The second coming of Frank Bruno imo. It's too early for me to compare him to Lennox right now though.
The heavyweight division is a relatively weak one imo and unless he can go and dominate this new crop in a Klitschko-esque fashion, I don't see how he can be in the top 10 p4p. Don't personally think he is skilled/gifted enough to do that but time will tell.
He will be a good fighter, but I see too many issues that top level fighters could exploit. He will be there, or thereabouts in the division in the next 5 or so years.
Saturday will be a good chance to assess both Joshua & Joseph Parker as both are fighting. It'll be the first time seeing a full fight of Parkers for me. These two guys & maybe Deontay Wilder are the heavyweight hopefuls. Forget Fury & Klitschko theyre shot. Will be an interesting Saturday of fights
AJ is fighting made to measure damaged goods. A guy who has already been knocked out cold by Aerola and Wilder and who has beaten no one. Interestingly enough both Ortiz and Parker are fighting that night, but for some reason AJ is not facing either. Both are far better challenges AJ better be careful, that he doesn't allow himself to be molly coddled and not prepared for the day he is in the ring with a threat who is his equal.... An 18 month lay off Wlad would be a severe test.
I've watched almost every pro fight of his ... his punching power is beyond anyone else I have seen over the past few years. Levels above. He has punched through everyone's defenses. He matches knockout power with precision. He was wobbled by a good left hook by Whyte but recovered well. Still the punch didn't look too powerful so there are some people who want to know how he would handle a flush right hand from a big puncher. There are some style issues, like little head movement. He's also very big and muscular and hasn't been taken to later rounds so stamina questions but in general takes his health and trainign very seriously. My opinion right now, he has the aura of a Mike Tyson. He could be the best of a generation.
He's pretty open to being hit and his stamina doesn't seem to be all there, add that to having a suspect chin and he doesn't seem like a guy that would be at the top for very long.
We have no idea. His opposition has been atrocious and looking good against terrible opponents means **** all.
We've been talking about his potential ever since he turned pro and we are still in the same boat. He's yet to step up to the top level and truly be tested despite winning a title. Maybe he'll come unstuck when he does step up, but I doubt it. He seems to be improving, adding tools to his repetoire gradually and he seems to have the right mentality that is needed to reach his potential. How good could he be? He could be the best in the division but he's still a work in progress at the moment he needs to continue to improve if he is to do that. His head/upper body movement could be better, it's not awful but it's something he could improve. His movement could be better, he could be better in the clinch, we don't know if he can go 12 rounds yet. We haven't seen him forced back or under pressure can he be as effective when on the back foot all the time? Too many unanswered questions at this point.
As it stands, i'm not buying into the hype of "he's the best heavyweight in the world", as someone said on here he looks like Bruno 2.0. Not to say i don't think the potential is there, i just don't think you can read much into someone who's best win is either Whyte, Martin or Breazeale. When it comes to his chin, people always cite Dillian Whyte, but that shot hit him hard in the temple and he recovered VERY quickly, but that is still probably the 2nd tme hes been caught FLUSH
As people have said above there are still many unanswered questions. No doubt he is a talent but all his opponents so far are tailor made for his strengths.
The only thing that worries me is his chin, it was questionable in the amateurs, it's only been tested once in the pro game and he was rocked to his boots. AJ's style of boxing, walk them down and hit heavy doesn't work if you are chinny, he's just fought nobody that can move and counter. It will come though. I'm not saying chinny heavyweights can't do well (Tyson fury is chinny) I just don't think AJ has the movement to keep people away from his chin