Wlad: I am like Mount Everest

Just going to leave this link here. Tell me what you all think.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/apr/12/wladimir-klitschko-mount-everest-boxing-anthony-joshua

Never seen a fat mess like Tyson Fury conquer Everest.

I think this fight is a personal Everest for Wlad

I've said it before but win and people open doors for him the rest of his life treat him like royalty a national hero

Lose and it's the mediocrity who ruled a sub par division a big lucky stiff who happened to be in the right place at the right time who tampered with the canvas to slow up his oponents

If Wlad had ruled a strong division how come he himself has already called this fight his career defining fight?

Herman Jaeger wrote:I think this fight is a personal Everest for Wlad

I've said it before but win and people open doors for him the rest of his life treat him like royalty a national hero

Lose and it's the mediocrity who ruled a sub par division a big lucky stiff who happened to be in the right place at the right time who tampered with the canvas to slow up his oponents

Or more realistically this fight changes absolutely nothing win or lose.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

Herman Jaeger wrote:I think this fight is a personal Everest for Wlad

I've said it before but win and people open doors for him the rest of his life treat him like royalty a national hero

Lose and it's the mediocrity who ruled a sub par division a big lucky stiff who happened to be in the right place at the right time who tampered with the canvas to slow up his oponents

Or more realistically this fight changes absolutely nothing win or lose.

lol probably

Wlad fought and beat most of his opponents. You can only fight who's available. The only contender he didn't fight was his older brother and you can't blame him for that. Even Smokin' Joe wouldn't fight Ken Norton because as he said "he's like a brother to me". For me the fight is a pick em and I wouldn't be surprised if Wlad came out on top.

Can't take the Haye win away from Wlad he was very good that night if that version of Wlad shows up at Wembley anything could happen

It says something about us fans' fickle nature that this fight is splitting our opinion. For years the majority of us bemoaned the HW divisions' lack of quality, and derided Wlad as an unremarkable champ that that have struggled to hold his own in previous generations, yet at the age of 41,and coming off the lack to two very lacklustre performances he's up against a murderous punching, fast handed champion, and yet we're hedging our bets. It's almost like we can't believe what we saw in the Fury fight, and so are refusing to draw logical conclusions from it- maybe we don't want to make fools of ourselves again by predicting a one sided beating (like I certainly did when calling an easy win for Klitchko against Fury) and therefore don't want to commit. Yes AJ lacks a bit of experience, but really this should be a Tyson - Holmes type passing of the torch.

Everyone bar me and Haz picked Fury to be destroyed. I didn't pick him to win, but I said he would be competitive.

AdamT wrote:Everyone bar me and Haz picked Fury to be destroyed. I didn't pick him to win,  but I said he would be competitive.

Yep. Although im still 10000000% adamant that Wlad just did not prepare correctly, his mind was elsewhere. He genuinely (as did 90% of planet earth) think he would just turn up and smash him to pieces.

The fact he immediately exercised the rematch clause and willingness to travel shows he made a big mistake.

One he will be embarrassed about for a very very long time.

Seen highlight of Wlad And Aj faceoff.

Aj - "I'm going for the knockout. It's what I do."

Wlad - "If you win? I will congratulate you. When you lose! I will help you come back."

Probably won't be a classic fight, but I'm looking forward to it. I hope Wlad really still has something to prove and tries to win. I'm thinking he is very confident. I admit I'm being swayed. I think Wlad is going to take this.

When the fight was first made I thought AJ all day long. Inactivity, age and for whatever reason not pulling the trigger in his last two fights - no brainer.

Then I started to listen to others, sparring stories etc etc, I started thinking this could be an even contest.

However, taking all things into account, I'm convinced AJ will win, prob's by ko/tko in the second half of the fight.

The torch will be passed, and I would not be surprised if we see Wilder step into the ring post fight with a view to AJ v Wilder later this year.

That would be good. These unifications need to happen. I hope Joshua takes his time, but doesn't show too much respect. Don't chase the knockout, unless it presents itself.

If Joshua gets off to a good start and keeps busy, he can build a good lead. It will be then up to Wlad to either, go into survival mode? Or take chances and Aj will have the chance to finish him.

I'm on the fence with this one. Aj should win, but experience counts for something.

I think AJ's biggest test would be against Ortiz. I got him beating all the other top heavy's, not sure how the Ortiz fight would play out though.

Ortiz is skilled, but not getting any younger. Haven't heard much of him recently.

AdamT wrote:Ortiz is skilled, but not getting any younger. Haven't heard much of him recently.

True say.

Crikey Adam, we seem to be on the same page for once.

Have to agree on something man!!

Don't get to friendly, my reputation of arse licking is fierce.

a fierce arselicker with a tongue like sandpaper, so truss says.

Unless Truss can lick his own behind. According to Haz we are one and the same.

AdamT wrote:Unless Truss can lick his own behind. According to Haz we are one and the same.

You answered it in that first sentence AT (About Truss).

Who wins Aj vs Wlad in your. Opinion Haz? Can't remember your prediction.

At (Almost Truss)

AdamT wrote:Who wins Aj vs Wlad in your. Opinion Haz? Can't remember your prediction.

At (Almost Truss)

I've been siding with Wlad for ages. I don't prescribe to the theory Wlad was over the hill against Fury (Fury just messed him up). I fancied Klitschko to mess Joshua about early and then peck away to win on points (Joshua hasn't had enough rounds to hope to outpoint Klitschko). But then I remember what an absolute wet lettuce Wlad looks like under fire with that panic-stricken look across his face and can't imagine AJ failing to lay some serious leather on him.

It's got me baffled for now!

I'm on the fence too. I predict a tactical fight with little action. Maybe a late knock out.

Joshua early on by Ko or Wlad on points

AdamT wrote:Unless Truss can lick his own behind. According to Haz we are one and the same.

well he's been likened to a junk yard dog, so it should be within his capabilities

AJ Klitschko is just one of those fights with a lot of unknowns... no result would shock me.

My gut is that there was more than just fury being a stylistic nightmare for wlad, that he's lost a step (he looked slower and heavier footed than the guy that fought haye), that he will have gone backward not forward with another 18 months out... and that Joshua will spark him.

The nagging doubt is that Joshua hasn't fought anyone with a pulse and the big step up in class will mean he's the one shipping the heavy leather.

So AJ KO for me, but with no real confidence.

milkyboy wrote:

AdamT wrote:Unless Truss can lick his own behind. According to Haz we are one and the same.

well he's been likened to a junk yard dog, so it should be within his capabilities

My next invention was going to have problems with Autism...

But that seems to have been done already..

41...........
Hasn't fought for 18 months.........
Straight line mauler in against a straight line heavy puncher......
One dimensional.............
No chin....
Threw 17 punches a round against Fury......
Last straight shooter he fought with life in him was Sanders..

No hope...No chance....No way...

I think he is bang on. I've never bought into the Joshua hype as he hasnt done anything to give me the impression he is the wrecking machine Eddie would have you believe.

Styles make fights, as we all know. Fury won but not by a landslide and did so by using unorthodox movement of his feet and head, using angles and switch hitting. I've seen nothing to suggest Joshua has that in his locker. And as for being a monstorous puncher he doesn't put people to sleep, and his calibre of opponent isn't a great indicator either. We have no idea of how AJ reacts to not having the center of the ring, or getting it his own way.

I look at the whyte fight and he even admitted after the event got to him, no way at this point in his career he isnt feeling the pressure from this fight too.

Wlad is historically a safety first, defensive fighter so though there is an outside chance, I wouldn't fancy an early stoppage in favour of AJ.

How is his stamina over 12? He looked a bit gassed against breazele after 4 or 5...

I'm not saying he cant be the monster he is portrayed, I just havent seen it. Wlad has the ability and experience to show AJ things he's never seen or had to deal with over and above the reverse of that statement.

I sincerely hope this isnt a public execution of a shot Wlad, who is imo and ATG

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:41...........
Hasn't fought for 18 months.........
Straight line mauler in against a straight line heavy puncher......
One dimensional.............
No chin....
Threw 17 punches a round against Fury......
Last straight shooter he fought with life in him was Sanders..

No hope...No chance....No way...

Id agree - although i said the same about Fury vs Klit

And Bellew.

Boxing is a strange old game - if Wlad IS on point, Joshua could have a tough night...a very frustrating one.

Hopefully I won't look like a total mug come Saturday evening

But I think Wlad is going to surprise a few people and for me its a pickem

Wlad is the best active heavyweight on the planet right now, Joshua has to prove that he is the new Lion

Going to be a cracking night I can't wait

Wlad won't be able to use his jab and grab tactics if the ref enforces the rules, but Wlad looks very sharp in the open workouts

This is a great fight and a tough fight for both

Don't think that just because Fury beat Wlad, Joshua can do the same