Tony Tucker Vs AJ?

The OP specified the Tucker from the Douglas fight. In my opinion, that Tucker looked better than any version of AJ thus far. I think it is close to a 50/50 fight, and I lean towards Tucker by close decision. Tucker has much quicker hands and feet. Joshua punches harder, but, Tucker had a great chin. He is unlikely to get stopped by AJ.

 

AJ by kayo or decision

 

Tucker would definitlly be among AJ's stronger opponents. Behind Wladimir but certainly somewhere in the Ruiz-Whyte-Parker range. For sure he will give him a much harder fight than Breazeale, Molina, old Pulev, old Povetkin. Tucker would have the chance for an upset (like Ruiz) but on a normal day AJ should win this not easily...but rather clearly.

 

Tucker has superior speed and the size disparity isn't that big.

 

Lewis was about 30lb smaller back then. Duh.

 

So Lewis was not a real HW back then either despite the man being 6'5 and 235lbs ??

 

You can’t put a top 70s/80s 210lb (with a soft tummy) heavy in with today’s 270lb shredded Anthony Joshua. It’s silly, it’s a hideous mismatch. Like many of these fantasy fights pitching fighters of completely different sizes all the time

 

Not compared to his 2000s self, the Klitschkos, AJ and Fury. They are basically super heavies since then

 

Joshua's best weight is 237

 

Tucker . Hits that China chin mid rounds good night . Tucker had better stamina speed and chin . His power would be enough to get the job done . Can't believe so many favour AJ

 

?

 

Tucker was getting beat by Douglas before the stoppage, but was coming on stronger towards the end.

Tucker had a problem that he (usually) didn't kick it up a gear when he needed to. I don't know if its a lack of a sense of urgency or pacing issue, but you could see it in some of his fights. I definitely remember it in the Douglas, Lewis, and I think Norris or McCall fights, just wanted someone to tell Tucker to press down on the gas a little more.

All that being said and despite his lack of urgency, he was still a big guy who was pretty well schooled. So I'd go with a close decision to AJ, maybe he drops Tucker along the way, but Tucker wins a fair number of rounds and hurts Joshua at least one point in the fight but doesn't follow up enough. 116-111 or 115-112 for AJ

 

Tucker was expected to at least metal in 80, not sure if Stevenson was there? He was very well schooled!