How good of a run is Franklin, Helenius, Wallin, Ngannou?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Slyk, Feb 23, 2024.


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  1. Slyk

    Slyk Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I'm seeing some very enthusiastic posts about Joshua's "comeback" trail. Very enthusiastic. He's apparently once again the #1 or #2 HW and would beat Fury. Let's take a look at some of these wins:

    Jermaine Franklin - Nobody except die hards had heard of him before he fought and lost to Whyte. Joshua fought an extremely tentative fight and won a decision but didn't dominate. Looked shaky in beating a club fighter. I rate this win a C-

    Robert Helenius - This guy got bounced out of the HW elite a decade ago when he had to rob Chisora. Beating "face first" Kownacki then getting KO1'd by Wilder is about right for the latter stage of his career. 6 rounds to finish a 40 year old never-was. I rate this win a D+

    Otto Wallin - His claim to fame is cutting Fury and then failing to capitalize and losing. Otto has probably the weakest shots of a HW in the top 50 unless Malik Scott is still in there. He was coming off a UD over a Gassiev who is unproven at the weight, but it's been apparent for a few years that Gassiev can't make the transition up. Otto can neither hurt nor outbox anyone in the top 15. When Fury fought him he was slated for fighting a no hoper, and Wallin didn't suddenly get better (or more MOTIVATED, like a 41 year old Klitschko, right?). I rate this win a C+

    Ngannou - I fully expect Joshua to potshot and UD Ngannou just as Fury planned to do. Ngannou's entire hype train is riding on fighting on relatively even terms with a fat, deteriorated cokehead version of Fury. This should be no problem for a top 10 HW who actually trains. Fury got knocked down by Steve Cunningham and some other cruiserweight, so a knockdown isn't much of an accolade. Even with a KO1, this win is at best a C+ for me. It's an 0-1 MMA fighter.

    I've got C- D+ C+ and probably C+ for four fights. The same people frothing over these wins are loudly critical of Wilder's resume. In the five fights previous to these for Joshua we have two comprehensive decision losses and one quit job. Really makes you think about how good resumes actually are versus how good you're told they are.
     
    Slyk, Feb 23, 2024
    Slyk, Feb 23, 2024
    #1
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  2. Absolutely!

    Absolutely! Fabulous, darling! Full Member

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    It's very good. About as solid as anyone else can boast in the division.
     
    Absolutely!, Feb 23, 2024
    Absolutely!, Feb 23, 2024
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  3. like a boss

    like a boss Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Hardly spectacular is it?
     
    like a boss, Feb 23, 2024
    like a boss, Feb 23, 2024
    #3
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  4. piprules

    piprules Active Member Full Member

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    Who has a better run at heavyweight at the moment? I would say if Parker beats zang his run is pretty impressive.
     
    piprules, Feb 23, 2024
    piprules, Feb 23, 2024
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  5. heerko koois

    heerko koois Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    You try it.....
     
    heerko koois, Feb 23, 2024
    heerko koois, Feb 23, 2024
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  6. KO_King

    KO_King Horizontal Heavyweight Full Member

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    It's OK, but not great, in my view.
    But anyone who advocated Fury taking on Wallin and Ngannou doesn't really have much room to criticise. AJ is merely following his lead.
     
    KO_King, Feb 23, 2024
    KO_King, Feb 23, 2024
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  7. like a boss

    like a boss Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    TIP : Leave the jokes to the funny guys. You just don't have it.
     
    like a boss, Feb 23, 2024
    like a boss, Feb 23, 2024
    #7
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  8. heerko koois

    heerko koois Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    :(
     
    heerko koois, Feb 23, 2024
    heerko koois, Feb 23, 2024
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  9. Badbot

    Badbot I Am An Actual Pro. Full Member

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    It´s a good comeback run.

    Franklin was a nice test and a rust shaker after two bad back to back losses.

    Next up was supposed to be Whyte who was still widely ranked in the top 10 by many, and by all regards was certainly in the top 20. It was a way for Joshua to get a big win and get back to prominence. But in the end Helenius got the call on short notice.
    Not really anything of note, besides the fact that Joshua looked rather lackluster.

    Wallin was a step up in competition. Wallin himself had given Fury a good fight and was a crafty southpaw who no one really wanted to face. Plus Wallin had easily beaten: Kamil Sokolowski, Dominic Breazeale, Travis Kauffman and Murat Gassiev. So at least he was most certainly better than them.
    Joshua did what he was supposed to do in his last two fights: dominate and stop the opponent. Wallin who managed to give Fury a thought night was completelty schooled and taken apart by Joshua. It was a good win.

    Ngannou is a nice test to see who is on a better path right now; Fury or Joshua?
    But it was supposed to be Wilder. Wilder was supposed to be what Joshua´s comeback built up to. But hey-ho! Got to marinate them fights!
     
    Badbot, Feb 23, 2024
    Badbot, Feb 23, 2024
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  10. Arch Stanton

    Arch Stanton When you have to shoot, shoot!, don't talk...... Full Member

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    The Wallin domination and win was decent enough.

    I really thought Wallin was gonna give AJ some problems.
     
    Arch Stanton, Feb 23, 2024
    Arch Stanton, Feb 23, 2024
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  11. iceferg

    iceferg Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I think N'Gannou is going to shock AJ. Too long and hits too hard to be beat from the outside without at least getting his own heavy shots off in this one, too strong in the clinch to get dominated there.

    Joshua's glass chin is going to crack again.
     
    iceferg, Feb 23, 2024
    iceferg, Feb 23, 2024
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  12. Badbot

    Badbot I Am An Actual Pro. Full Member

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    I would like to add that this will be Joshua´s 4th fight in 12 months.
    No one else in the division is showing such activity.
     
    Badbot, Feb 23, 2024
    Badbot, Feb 23, 2024
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  13. KINGWILDER

    KINGWILDER Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Yeah mate don’t think you are in a position to talk.
     
    KINGWILDER, Feb 23, 2024
    KINGWILDER, Feb 23, 2024
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  14. KINGWILDER

    KINGWILDER Well-Known Member Full Member

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    It’s funny how the narrative has changed. A minute ago Joshua was going to rob Wallin and it was one of the toughest fights of his career. Now after he smoked him Wallin has become a bum. The truth is it’s a solid comeback run and that level of activity is highly impressive. Helenius is pretty average, Franklin a little better, Wallin is a legit top 15 contender, and Ngannou arguably beat Fury. If Joshua beats Francis I’d say he’s had a very solid run.
     
    KINGWILDER, Feb 23, 2024
    KINGWILDER, Feb 23, 2024
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  15. jmb1356

    jmb1356 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    It's not that great of a run. First 2 fights you can give him a pass for, since they were after 2 straight losses.
     
    jmb1356, Feb 23, 2024
    jmb1356, Feb 23, 2024
    #15
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