Joe Joyce vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov.

Both those guys are really good at using the ring, cutting off their opponent, etc. Obviously, Joyce has had the benefit of facing a higher-level opposition. Otherwise, I can't really say that Mak is lacking much - except, as you said, experience in deeper waters.

 

Agreed. Joyce is not particularly difficult to hit, either. Both are pretty much forwards-backwards movers. Joyce no longer has much trunk or head movement, either Joyce's best defensive attribute is that jab - it's punishing to try to work past. Mak has never demonstrated an ability to use his own jab to that effect.

 

Big Joe Joyces and Old Foremans chins are made of rhe same stuff.

 

Yes you're quite right. Let's hope that, taking into consideration Makhmudov's age, we'll be seeing those high-powered promoters looking to get him in the ring with a worthwhile opponent sometime in the not to distant future. If not Joyce, I think Dubois could also make for an interesting fight if he gets past Trevor Bryan. Either way, with the HW division currently seeing some turnover as you said, we should have some interesting fights coming our way within the next couple of years, especially as we're only about half a decade away from the next changing of the guard so to speak.

 

I would like Makhmudov vs Frank Sanchez. Sanchez loves aggressive fighters that have lots of holes in their defenses.

 

Sanchez would stand a pretty good chance of a UD, but I think this would likely be a snorefest like his fight with Efe Ajagba. Sanchez would be giving Mak alot of respect because although he's a plodder, he's a more skilled opponent than Ajagba was. And he can hit every bit as hard.

Sanchez isn't a big name yet (nor is Mak, except among diehards) - so it's kind of tough to see why they would fight each other - without an obviously good reason. Sanchez only has a ranking with the WBC and he's already higher-ranked there than Mak - so it doesn't seem like it's worth the risk for Sanchez.

Mak really has to find a top-tier promoter to develop his career.

Sanzhez isn't likely to blast a guy out of shoes; he's less of a risk to ruin an opponent - so it's probably a bit easier for him to find some meaningful work. So, for example, he could show up on one of Eddie's cards to fight Dillian Whyte. Or maybe he shows up against Joe Joyce in September if Parker's camp decides that they can make silly-easy money having their man fight Lucas Browne first.

 

Dillian Whyte would be the best fight for him. It would be a shutout and a late KO against a top 10-15 opponent, but some people wont give him credit due to Whytes recent loss against Fury

Joe Joyce is a good fight. Sanchez has a suspect gas tank so it's a bit risk but thats what it takes to make it to world level. Sanchez would be teeing off on Joyce but it's whether Sanchez can match Joyces pace and counter him at that pace for 12 rounds. If he can then Sanchez wins 100%, because we saw Takam have plenty of success doing that but he eventually gassed

 

I've wondered about Sanchez's gas tank. He did take his foot off the gas against both Sanchez and Ajagba late in those bouts.

If he is actually 29 years old - then the country of Cuba must somehow revolve around the sun at a slower pace than the rest of the planet. And to my eyes, at least, Frank Sanchez is old enough to be have been fathered by Luis Ortiz, himself, rather than Ortiz's own progeny.