Safe to say Joshua NEEDS an impressive performance vs Povetkin

Need a little perspective here...

AJ won a lot more easily than both Whyte and Chisora did...

He was in control of both fights the whole way through...

Chisora was losing and Whyte, while he did well, almost got sparked, had a three point swing due to a knockdown that wasn’t and with another referee could well have had points deducted.

I’m not an AJ fan, just trying to be realistic.

 

AJ just needs to win he won’t give two F if he looks good or not cos he got the belts and there will always be the mega showdown available in a year or two as long as he stays with that zero!

 

I agree in the respect that there have been some very entertaining performances and fights recently and Joshua's will be judged against them in terms of entertainment.

I saw an interview with AJ and he said something like he was cautious with Parker because of what was being lined up after (at the time Wilder).

I raised an eyebrow to that because every fight is important and there is always going to be something "big" afterwards, so in every fight will it be a safety first attitude?

I personally expect Joshua to beat Povetkin but I think style wise it's Joshuas toughest fight to date and I would not be surprised in the slightest if Povetkin caused an upset.

When Povetkin was asked a while ago who he wanted, Wilder or AJ, without hesitation he said "Joshua" and that has to be for a reason, he obviously really fancies it.

 

Sorry mate let’s add some perspective here in terms of reality.

Chisora chinned Takam with an actual KO shot. AJ got his win via a British stoppage and Takam was clearly ok to continue when it was waved off. In all likelihood that was heading for a 12 round UD for AJ.

Parker vs AJ was a diabolical stinkfest. Whilst Whyte vs Parker was very exciting.

Those two fights really hurt AJs reputation as 1. A big puncher and 2. An exciting HW.

His reputation is more hurt in terms of 2.

 

I have the very same thoughts - It’s not good enough to just win, he needs to be impressive. If he isn’t and it’s another scrappy/boring fight then my suspicions that he is physically interms of power on the decline might start to ring true.

The causals where less then impressed especially after Parker which was an abomination of a fight.

I even have a feeling the ticket sales will be slower this time-they will
Sell out but slower.

He needs to keep the hype going with a big performance.

Pressure is on AJ.

 

headvetkins noggin will be getting a floggin

 

This is spot on, although I think he’s still got a couple more dull fights in him before the casuals leave en masse.

 

Not really.

He just needs to win. Until someone beats him he doesn't need to do anything.

Hes number 1, it's the rest of them that need to do well to get a shot.

 

yep agree that AJ needs to put on an exciting fight if he wants to continue selling out stadiums. Even the casual's enthusiasm will wane if he has another snoozefest like the Parker fight.

 

The casuals want to see brutal beatings and KDs at least. You think the football fans and IG sluts who fill Joshua’s stadiums want to see him jab and one-two his way to a boring points win over opponents who are not called Wilder or Fury?

They want to see beatings. Emphatic KOs.

Eventually the novelty will run out. The casuals think of Joshua has a destroyer. They’ll have seen Povetkin get rocked back by Price so they will be totally unimpressed if Joshua doesn’t polax him.

 

You ever heard of the expression styles make fights?

 

Joshua doesn't need anything in terms of impressive performances, other than to keep winning. He's the heavyweight champion of the world; the pinnacle of the sport. The idea that the heavyweight champ ceases to be a major draw if he doesn't knock everyone out has no connection with reality. It's the one role in boxing where performance isn't that big a deal, and Joshua is such an established crossover star now that it's difficult to think of a scenario where he doesn't remain box office for as long as he stays at the top.

The other way of looking at the weekend is that 3 of AJ's leftovers were able to put on a PPV card, and deliver a quality night's entertainment. The profile required to put on a PPV between Whyte and Parker comes off the back of them fighting Joshua.

Putting on stinkers can turn people away, but equally if you just blast everyone away people can bored of that. With Joshua though, there's always the sense of vulnerability to keep people's interest, and Joshua-Wilder or Joshua-Fury will do great business regardless of how Joshua beats Povetkin (as long as he wins).

 

Been following boxing since 1990 what do you think?

That’s why my post refers to entertainment as the issue here...not necessarily the Clean KO wins.

 

Don't agree with OP. No fan of Joshua but if he wins 119-109, 118-110, 118-110 in a boring range fight then there would be a few grumblings no doubt. Not enough to massively reduce his stock though. He'll still will have 3 belts, undefeated, darling of boxing etc. He's not exactly fighting a mug either.

Lets not forget 9 months ago Whyte stunk the house out vs Helenius and Chisora got beat by a relative unknown for the European title.