Heart and Head

So the future of heavyweight boxing is a certain mr AJ Anthony Joshua.

I like i'm guessing a lot of you really like the guy - yes frustrated at the mismatches but as we all know it's a cash game and still very early doors for him in the career of a heavyweight.

He's ko'ing people left, right and centre but I can't help but think when i'm watching him that he is Bruno mark 2. It's the same car with a few upgrades and yet still the same faults. Sure AJ is faster and personally i also believe the bigger and stronger puncher. I also think he's got more of a mood for a tear up than old Frank had bless him but the faults are still there. Stiffness. Just watching Joshua on Top Gear at the weekend - the guy can't move his neck - he looks stiff in the ring and looks stiff when doing normal stuff on film. It gives me the impression that when someone does clip him sufficiently he's just going to stiffen up like old frank and be a sitting duck. What are your thoughts?

The good thing about AJ is that if he had Tyson in the situation Frank did he wouldn't be standing back thinking 'how the hell have I actually managed to pull this off' but he WILL go for the kill...

Being as good as Bruno is good enough to rule. Certainly if he is an upgrade, he will have no trouble ruling the current era.

In the current division he looks like world beater.

IF there was a Lennox Lewis around AJ would be beaten handily.

I find it difficult to warm to him. Comes across as trying too hard to be nice and I get the feeling there's a real nasty streak behind the Hearn managed PR.

Agree about the stiffness too. When Whyte rocked him, his instinct was to fight fire with fire, against a more canny opponent that coulda been disasterous. But I gues he was very green at the time.

emancipator? Jeeeesus....

He looks okay and think your wrong about the Whyte fight E.M (although it's good not to have the same opinions all the time).

Thought he showed a bit of boxing nuance (is that a word?) to ride out the storm and come on strong. Problem i have now is that he's a world champ so should be itching to fight the best (Fury, Wlad, Wilder) not pulling the 'i still need learning fights' excuse

Nous maybe derby.

TopHat24/7 wrote:emancipator? Jeeeesus....

The one and only,

at your service.

All things possible, at a price of course.



emancipator

Ha ha, that's the one SB, i did put that first but thought it was wrong (considering i write stuff i'm pants with a lot of words)

IF there was a Lennox Lewis around AJ would be beaten handily.

I think it's only fair to compare them at similar points in their career. The Steward version of Lewis would beat AJ right now, however at the same point in their career (17th fight) Lewis was fighting Glenn McCrory
I reckon AJ would dispatch Glen with ease. Cant compare later Lewis to current AJ. He's got a lot of maturing to do

emancipator wrote:I find it difficult to warm to him. Comes across as trying too hard to be nice and I get the feeling there's a real nasty streak behind the Hearn managed PR.

I didn't know what to think of him till I bumped into him in a lift this year. Not literally, we just shared the same lift although he filled it and made me feel small at 6 ft 3. The man is a beast. I do a bit of boxing and i'm 16 stone (not all muscle..., ok, hardly any muscle) but i couldn't imagine facing him.

He couldn't have been nicer, happy to chat. Been a fan since.

Still a long road ahead of him. He's been ticking the boxes and looked impressive. Really believe he can rule for many years.

He's got explosive power and gets the KO, so is fun to watch. Tougher tests await but I'm enjoying the ride.

Group Cpt Lionel Mandrake wrote:

IF there was a Lennox Lewis around AJ would be beaten handily.

I think it's only fair to compare them at similar points in their career. The Steward version of Lewis would beat AJ right now, however at the same point in their career (17th fight) Lewis was fighting Glenn McCrory
I reckon AJ would dispatch Glen with ease. Cant compare later Lewis to current AJ. He's got a lot of maturing to do

yeah, fair point.