Is Joshua vs. Dubois bigger than Joshua vs. Wilder?

Joshua-Wilder when it should have happened would have been way bigger than Joshua-Dubois.

 

It is for the present, if they fought when wilder was champ then it wouldn't have.

 

This. AJ / Wilder would have been HUGE if it had happened at the right time. AJ / Dubois is basically Usyk's leftovers trying to see who is best.

 

Now? Yes, 100%

Then? 100% not.

 

When Joshua-Wilder should've happened, it would've been for undisputed.

This is a fight for one belt.


Whilst I'm glad that Joshua didn't get to be undisputed (and make no mistake, he would have been), there's simply no comparing the two fights.


There's also another history angle to look at... Which is if Dubois pulls off the unexpected upset, it could well be the real beginning of his time right at the top of the division - given his age and how little else is coming through, he's looking likely to be a factor at the top for quite some time.

 

Not even ****ing close. Even now like 5 years past peak interest AJ/Wilder and AJ/Fury are still the two biggest fights possible in combat sports on a global level.

 

This is hilarious. I don't think anyone wants to see wilder fight any live heavyweight again. He could garner interest fighting in brigderweight, cruiserweights or cross over. Stick a fork in him, he's done.

 

Opinion on Wilder is split 50/50.

Between those who think he's shot, and those who think he's been exposed.


Either way, the relevance isn't there.

 

Sure say that now….

 

I actually don’t get the basis for saying he’s “exposed” (Outside of trying to downplay Fury’s wins over him)

People have been saying he can’t box and his power, heart, and athleticism bails him out for years, even before he lost to Fury... Its also very clear he no longer can pull the trigger Iike he used to, or even has the inner fire that he used to.

As far as the thread goes… yeah to boxing fans, DuBois vs AJ is a bigger fight today….

But only to boxing fans. No one else cares, even today. If Wilder signed to fight AJ even today, a bunch of casuals would probably be excited for it.

Before he lost several fights, Wilder - AJ is on a different level than DuBois - AJ.

 

I think this might be where you're missing a bit...

Because he fought so few decent fighters before Fury (between 0 and 2, depending on your viewpoint), it's unclear whether he'd ever have been able to pull that trigger against anyone good.

I can't disagree with this.

Definitely - regardless of whether Wilder was ever that good.


Let's be honest, hype does sell fights.

 

In terms of casual interest, it doesnt matter. AJ/Wilder would still outdraw anything aside from maybe AJ/Fury. Remember when Lennox vs washed up Tyson did almost 2 million PPV buys?