I think we are getting a bit ahead of ourselves with Joshua beating Klitsckho

Wlad's been looking poorly in his last few matches.

On the other hand, if he drills his fundamentals again and doesn't forget his jab at home, it could be a long evening for AJ.

 

If an unfit Dillian Whyte can badly hurt Joshua with one clip what's Wladimir going to do? Unless Wladimir is shot to bits he's taking this. Joshua will stand right in front of him like Pulev.

 

Well you claimed Martin would destroy Joshua and went on and on about his great skill set and then quickly switched to repeating that he is 'garbage'. No doubt you will do the same with klitschko and the majority of his opponents if he continues winning. It's weird you are so against giving him any credit, why exactly is it you hate him? If we can figure that out it may stop you being blinded and you can pick fights like Martin/AJ with a bit of objectivity.

 

If a feather fisted cruiser weight can drop and badly hurt fury, what's wladmir going to do?

Boxing doesn't always make sense in what seems like it should be a logical outcome.

 

The Pulev fight was 2 years ago, that's a long time for an old champion. It was Wlad's last good performance and Wlad's compact left hook could be dangerous if he catches Joshua with it. AJ sometimes drops the right hand or loads up too much with the right hand leaving himself open for the left hook, we saw that in the Whyte fight and it almost cost him. If he makes the same mistake with Wlad, he won't know what hit him.

But the Pulev fight showed how much Wlad's jab has declined, he was being out jabbed by Pulev and was forced to adapt. Not saying Joshua has a jab as good as Pulev's, he doesn't but Wlad's jab isn't what it once was, he's too tentative with it, paws with it too much now.

Joshua also is nothing like Pulev. Wlad was able to dance out of range and leap in with shots, mainly the left hook, because Pulev has such atrocious movement, it's why we saw Pulev have to clinch so much against Arias and Chisora, he can't get out of the way. Joshua while not exactly a great mover, is better than Pulev and can create distance unlike Pulev when Wlad tries to leap in. Joshua also has a higher guard while Pulev has that weird open mummy guard that is great for blocking straight shots but useless with hooks.

Joshua won't just stand in front of Wlad. He didn't do it with Breazeale why would he do it with Wlad who is far more dangerous.

 

It's a 50/50 fight.

 

People who keep saying Joshua isn't ready need to be realistic.
Wlad's decline at 40 is quite visible. This version of Wlad cannot
pull the trigger, his movement (which at one time was good for a big guy)
is not there anymore, and his chin has a bullseye on it. A large quick,
monster punching HW is the last thing Wlad should fight at this stage.

35 yo Wlad would've rocked Joshua's world. This is not 35 year Wlad.

 

Joshua has improved his mobility a lot as seen in the Brazzelle fight. He also won't be facing Wlad on 6 inches of memory foam like Pulev was. Thats half the reason why Pulev was standing there like a sitting duck. The other half is because he had Wlad draped all over him like an octopus. Seriously , 80% of those rounds were spent in a grappling contest instigated by Wlad.
He was totally unable to box. His game plan was to look for one punch and win by KO. By leaping in with the left hook as you said. In between he just wrestled Pulev all over the ring.
This wasn't down to him ageing either. Go back to the Calvin Brock fight and you'l see him getting out jabbed and having no other answer than to lean down all over little Brock till he was completely shattered . Then Wlad was able to have success and score the knock out.
This technique he was allowed get away with for the last 10 years will have no effect on Joshua. In fact it will be detrimental to Wlads own safety if he uses it. You're going to get hurt if you enter into Joshua's blast radius looking to tie up. He simple hasn't the chin to be in there unless he's willing to fire back and he won't ever do that. AJ isn't the type of guy to allow somebody use spoiling tactics against him , he's nasty and spiteful , Wlad will get roughhoused worse than he ever gave.

There's a reason why its taking so long to get over the line and its most likely K2 are looking for all their usual advantages. And as a challenger he isn't entitled to any. He hasn't a chance in hell vs Joshua without his own personal referee. As if he's coming to England to face AJ with a fair ref in there whose going to make him play by the rules.

 

Too soon this for AJ, I know Wlad is getting on a bit, but I think he still has enough in him to beat AJ, probably by stoppage in around round 7.

 

Wlad ain't the same, was apparent in Jennings fight.
I will take AJ at this point.

 

Aint the same as when? When he was going life and death with Sam Peter and getting battered by Brewster?

 

If wlad has even 75% left he should beat AJ but then again he did lose to Tyson Fury in his lastfight....

 

So you are picking Wlad?

 

Picking him to lose his pen ,yeah

 

I certainly wouldn't favour AJ to win this. But Wlad at 40 is hardly one to put much faith in either.

Joshua and his team are probably 100% banking on beating old man Wladimir with speed and getting him out of there in the early rounds.
I wouldn't be surprised if they secure a referee to guard against any degree of clinching, and this might even be a British stoppage.
Hey, they might even pay Wladimir to lay down.

We don't know what Wlad has left. We don't know if Wlad has ANYTHING left.
I would be more impressed if Joshua can win this if it turns out to be a LONG fight, because a short victory will leave too many questions still.
IF AJ ends up a strong betting favourite to win this, it is worth betting on Wladimir.