The No Spin Zone: A Fair & Balanced Assessment Of Everything Anthony Joshua & Deontay Wilder.

You had Parker beating Whyte, didn't you?

 

I wasn't expecting you to be this reasonable when talking about AJ. But I guess making a thread of this manner requires you to be a bit more serious about what you say. I mostly agree. As for my two cents, I think AJ is the better fighter, and would win the fight should it happen. However I think Wilder is more exciting to watch. Ultimately I'll be rooting for somebody else to come in and take over. Parker is proving to be a dud as he seems to have hit a plateau and his style isn't as exciting as it was coming up. I would love to see Jennings get a meaningful win sometime in the future. I have little hope for Dubois. Joyce is starting to grow on me but I just don't see him being an elite fighter in the pro ranks. Maybe Usyk can write some history here.

 

I'd also say he's a little kind to Ortiz in his evaluation who all age and health speculation aside has Jennings as his too win.

 

Efe Ajagba <---- watchout for this guy. Nigerian boxing out of Texas. 6'5. As big and ripped up as Wilder and AJ. 5-0 5KOs. Fights the 24th on an undercard in Minnesota. Only 24. Think he is the next dude up has the looks. Havent really heard him interviewed but I imagine his english is ok being here so young. I hope they move him quickly. He might catch Wilder as Wilder leaves his prime but AJ should still be there and being Nigerian there is a huge opportunity to fight AJ there. I imagine him and Yoko will be the big fight in 4 or 5 years.

As far as hoping someone else will come up. Why? AJ and DW are a breathe of fresh air after the snoozefeet that was the Klitschko reign. HWs are vital in keeping America's attention on boxing. Plenty of great smaller fighters but HWs have always carried boxing here. I think that decade long bore of Klitschko combined with the rise of the UFC has zapped mainstream interest in America. Wilder and AJ can bring it back. Once the attention gets on them then the Spences and Crawfords, Thurman's, Mikey's, Loma's etc should all benefit.

 

I agree Hearn has done a great job. But he has pretty much failed him in a big way to me. It's a sin he hasn't fought in America yet. AJ would crossover here in a snap. Good looking, well spoken, KO HW artist. You kidding me? He already beat Wilder to late night by being on Cordon and Conan. Was floor seat at NBA playoff game where they talked about AJ Wilder (Wilder should have been at the next game). AJ already has Under Armour behind him. What the hell are they waiting for?

Listen I think it's admirable he wants big fights in the UK and he stay over there and loves his country. But hell man you crack America which he easily could times what he is getting by 5. It's boggling my mind. They have stretched this out now to the point where he has awkward press conferences, the DAZN one in NY, because he has made it UK vs USA. What are you doing man? People in America would love AJ. It's stupid. I would have told him if I was Hearn to buy a place in LA and spend half your time there. We are going do one fight in America and one in London per year.

Whatever what do I know?

 

He looks pretty good for starting in 2011. Hopefully he relocates to the UK, Canada, or the US and gets a good team behind him.

 

It's probably a separate discussion I don't want to take this one off topic, but just remember that AJ earned $47m last year. He's developing commercial links which will continue to earn him vast sums long after his boxing career is over and he's ensuring that he retains control over as much of his career as possible. Those realities need to be balanced against the potential from a push for the US market such as you describe and the risks that go alongside it. Expect him to make his US debut in a fight where he's in control as much as possible.

 

I respect that you wrote all of that.

 

Joshua's resume is much better, but overall he hasn't done much. Lately he's been safety first vs Parker and Takam

Wilder's resume is a bit of a joke, as he has not defeated a top ten guy in his prime, and been exposed in victory, often bailed out by his power behind or even on the cards vs top 15-50 type of guys. While Wilder beat Ortiz in a struggle, Ortiz was 38 years or older...

The good news is Povetkin and Fury will test Joshua and Wilder. If both can win, they will have a legacy boost, but still lag behind where they should be.

 

I think the same but it dawned on me when I saw AJ at the DAZN launch, he looked very uneasy out of the comfort zone of the UK, said very little when he took to the stage and there were no signs of his PR smiles. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere else than there. I think he's a home comforts kinda guy whose confidence is fragile when dealing with change. I mean he still lives with his mother doesn't he?

The fact AJ hasn't fought in the US might be as much to do with that aspect than anything....