Anthony Joshua: 5 fights that have defined the heavyweight champ

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in December. *** Anthony Joshua has crammed a lot of drama into a relatively short amateur career and 24 professional bouts. A.J. has won an Olympic gold medal, captured a pro world title at only …

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in December.

***

Anthony Joshua has crammed a lot of drama into a relatively short amateur career and 24 professional bouts.

A.J. has won an Olympic gold medal, captured a pro world title at only 26, survived a spirted effort against an all-time great, lost his championship in one of the sport’s greatest upsets and then rebounded to become a titleholder again.

It definitely hasn’t been boring.

Joshua returns to the ring against Kubrat Pulev in defense of his three major titles Saturday at SSE Arena in London (DAZN), a fight that could lead to more drama: a showdown with countryman and fellow titleholder Tyson Fury next year.

In this article, we look back on Joshua’s career and give you five fights that have defined him.

***

ROBERTO CAMMARELLE

Anthony Joshua (left) celebrates after winning the super heavyweight gold medal in the 2012 Olympics. Damien Meyer /  AFP/Getty Images

When: Aug. 12, 2012

Where: Excel London, London (Olympics)

Result: 18-18 (decided by countback)

Background: Joshua became a star, at least in the U.K., before he threw a punch as a professional. A.J. had a reported 43 amateur fights when he stepped into the ring to face defending Olympic champion Roberto Cammarelle in the super heavyweight gold medal match in the London Games. Cammarelle, capable and experienced, built a lead after two rounds but a determined Joshua battled back and evened the score by the final bell. The winner was decided by a countback, in which the scores of all five judges (not just the three median scores) are taken into account. The 22-year-old from Watford was the Olympic champion in the Games’ most-glamourous division, which gave him an enormous head start in a professional career that began in October of 2013. He wasn’t just a successful amateur making the transition to the paid ranks. He was Anthony Joshua, gold medalist. Of course, with that name recognition comes pressure to have great success. He would feel the full weight of that pressure in 2019.

***

CHARLES MARTIN

When: April 9, 2016

Where: O2 Arena, London

Result: KO 2

Background: This was more of a coronation than a competitive fight. Charles Martin was making the first defense of his IBF title, which he won by knockout in his previous fight against Vyacheslav Glazkov less than three months earlier. He would have one of the shortest title reigns – 85 days — in heavyweight history. Martin was overmatched and quickly overwhelmed against Joshua, going down twice from right hands to the head in the second round and failing to make it out of the round. Just like that, Joshua fulfilled his destiny in only his 16th professional fight. And he was everything he was billed to be – fast, athletic, explosive and as powerful as any heavyweight since countryman Lennox Lewis ruled the division a generation earlier. He was the best big man in the world and it seemed as if he’d hold that position well into the future. Three fights later it all almost came crashing down.

***

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO

When: April 29, 2017

Where: SSE Arena, London

Result: TKO 11

Background: Klitschko, 41, seemed to be finished as an elite heavyweight after his one-sided decision loss to Tyson Fury the previous November. However, the former long-reigning champion, whipped himself into prime condition to give it one more go against an opponent he thought would be less elusive and more willing to engage than Fury was. He was right. And he took advantage. Klitschko got up from a fifth-round knockdown to put Joshua on the canvas – and hurt him — in the sixth with a vintage right hand. A younger Klitschko might’ve been able to finish him off; this version couldn’t. Five rounds later, in the 11th, it was Joshua who ended the fight early. He put Klitschko down twice and the fight was stopped with the old champion’s back against the ropes and taking unanswered punches. Joshua had his biggest victory. And he proved he could overcome adversity, although he wouldn’t be able to do so four fights later.

***

ANDY RUIZ JR. I

When: June 1, 2019

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York

Result: TKO L 7

Background: Late replacement Andy Ruiz Jr. had no chance to win this fight. The chubby American, as much as a 30-1 underdog, had some ability and quick hands but he was in the ring with the best heavyweight in the business. Then came a crazy Round 3 and Joshua would never be the same. The champion put Ruiz down with a left hook less than a minute into the round, prompting TV analyst Chris Mannix to say, “Anthony Joshua is a composed and ferocious finisher. Watch this.” Watch this, indeed. Ruiz took a big right and then, moments later, landed a left hook to side of Joshua’s head that shook him badly. A few punches later the discombobulated champion was down. He never fully recovered. Joshua fought bravely the next few rounds but went down two more times in Round 7 and, with no answers to Ruiz’s onslaught, he more or less gave up. Referee Michael Griffin stopped the fight at 1:27 of the round, making Ruiz the heavyweight champ and raising serious questions about Joshua.

***

ANDY RUIZ JR. II

When: Dec. 7, 2019

Where: Diriyah Arena, Diriyah, Saudi Arabia

Result: UD 12

Background: Joshua’s career as an elite heavyweight was on the line in this fight. A second consecutive loss to Ruiz would be difficult to overcome; a victory, particularly a clear one, would allow him to regain his titles and a good portion of the status he lost the first time around. He took no chances. Joshua boxed more than he fought, using his height, superior skill set and athleticism to win rounds and ultimately the fight by a clear decision – 118-110, 118-110 and 119-109 — against an ill-prepared opponent who came in 15½ pounds heavier than he had in the first fight. Joshua was champion again, he had reclaimed at least some of the momentum he had established after winning the gold medal, he was back on track. But what are we to make of this cautious Joshua? Is this the fighter we will see going forward? We’ll get a better idea about that when he steps into the ring to face Kubrat Pulev on Saturday.

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Anthony Joshua: 5 fights that have defined the heavyweight champ

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in December. *** Anthony Joshua has crammed a lot of drama into a relatively short amateur career and 24 professional bouts. A.J. has won an Olympic gold medal, captured a pro world title at only …

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in December.

***

Anthony Joshua has crammed a lot of drama into a relatively short amateur career and 24 professional bouts.

A.J. has won an Olympic gold medal, captured a pro world title at only 26, survived a spirted effort against an all-time great, lost his championship in one of the sport’s greatest upsets and then rebounded to become a titleholder again.

It definitely hasn’t been boring.

Joshua returns to the ring against Kubrat Pulev in defense of his three major titles Saturday at SSE Arena in London (DAZN), a fight that could lead to more drama: a showdown with countryman and fellow titleholder Tyson Fury next year.

In this article, we look back on Joshua’s career and give you five fights that have defined him.

***

ROBERTO CAMMARELLE

Anthony Joshua (left) celebrates after winning the super heavyweight gold medal in the 2012 Olympics. Damien Meyer /  AFP/Getty Images

When: Aug. 12, 2012

Where: Excel London, London (Olympics)

Result: 18-18 (decided by countback)

Background: Joshua became a star, at least in the U.K., before he threw a punch as a professional. A.J. had a reported 43 amateur fights when he stepped into the ring to face defending Olympic champion Roberto Cammarelle in the super heavyweight gold medal match in the London Games. Cammarelle, capable and experienced, built a lead after two rounds but a determined Joshua battled back and evened the score by the final bell. The winner was decided by a countback, in which the scores of all five judges (not just the three median scores) are taken into account. The 22-year-old from Watford was the Olympic champion in the Games’ most-glamourous division, which gave him an enormous head start in a professional career that began in October of 2013. He wasn’t just a successful amateur making the transition to the paid ranks. He was Anthony Joshua, gold medalist. Of course, with that name recognition comes pressure to have great success. He would feel the full weight of that pressure in 2019.

***

CHARLES MARTIN

When: April 9, 2016

Where: O2 Arena, London

Result: KO 2

Background: This was more of a coronation than a competitive fight. Charles Martin was making the first defense of his IBF title, which he won by knockout in his previous fight against Vyacheslav Glazkov less than three months earlier. He would have one of the shortest title reigns – 85 days — in heavyweight history. Martin was overmatched and quickly overwhelmed against Joshua, going down twice from right hands to the head in the second round and failing to make it out of the round. Just like that, Joshua fulfilled his destiny in only his 16th professional fight. And he was everything he was billed to be – fast, athletic, explosive and as powerful as any heavyweight since countryman Lennox Lewis ruled the division a generation earlier. He was the best big man in the world and it seemed as if he’d hold that position well into the future. Three fights later it all almost came crashing down.

***

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO

When: April 29, 2017

Where: SSE Arena, London

Result: TKO 11

Background: Klitschko, 41, seemed to be finished as an elite heavyweight after his one-sided decision loss to Tyson Fury the previous November. However, the former long-reigning champion, whipped himself into prime condition to give it one more go against an opponent he thought would be less elusive and more willing to engage than Fury was. He was right. And he took advantage. Klitschko got up from a fifth-round knockdown to put Joshua on the canvas – and hurt him — in the sixth with a vintage right hand. A younger Klitschko might’ve been able to finish him off; this version couldn’t. Five rounds later, in the 11th, it was Joshua who ended the fight early. He put Klitschko down twice and the fight was stopped with the old champion’s back against the ropes and taking unanswered punches. Joshua had his biggest victory. And he proved he could overcome adversity, although he wouldn’t be able to do so four fights later.

***

ANDY RUIZ JR. I

When: June 1, 2019

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York

Result: TKO L 7

Background: Late replacement Andy Ruiz Jr. had no chance to win this fight. The chubby American, as much as a 30-1 underdog, had some ability and quick hands but he was in the ring with the best heavyweight in the business. Then came a crazy Round 3 and Joshua would never be the same. The champion put Ruiz down with a left hook less than a minute into the round, prompting TV analyst Chris Mannix to say, “Anthony Joshua is a composed and ferocious finisher. Watch this.” Watch this, indeed. Ruiz took a big right and then, moments later, landed a left hook to side of Joshua’s head that shook him badly. A few punches later the discombobulated champion was down. He never fully recovered. Joshua fought bravely the next few rounds but went down two more times in Round 7 and, with no answers to Ruiz’s onslaught, he more or less gave up. Referee Michael Griffin stopped the fight at 1:27 of the round, making Ruiz the heavyweight champ and raising serious questions about Joshua.

***

ANDY RUIZ JR. II

When: Dec. 7, 2019

Where: Diriyah Arena, Diriyah, Saudi Arabia

Result: UD 12

Background: Joshua’s career as an elite heavyweight was on the line in this fight. A second consecutive loss to Ruiz would be difficult to overcome; a victory, particularly a clear one, would allow him to regain his titles and a good portion of the status he lost the first time around. He took no chances. Joshua boxed more than he fought, using his height, superior skill set and athleticism to win rounds and ultimately the fight by a clear decision – 118-110, 118-110 and 119-109 — against an ill-prepared opponent who came in 15½ pounds heavier than he had in the first fight. Joshua was champion again, he had reclaimed at least some of the momentum he had established after winning the gold medal, he was back on track. But what are we to make of this cautious Joshua? Is this the fighter we will see going forward? We’ll get a better idea about that when he steps into the ring to face Kubrat Pulev on Saturday.

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Anthony Joshua asks Oleksandr Usyk to delay mandatory so he can unify vs. Tyson Fury

Anthony Joshua is hoping that Oleksandr Usyk will delay his mandatory challenge so A.J. can unify the heavyweight titles against Tyson Fury

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Anthony Joshua has asked Oleksandr Usyk to delay his mandatory challenge so A.J. can unify all four major titles against fellow titleholder Tyson Fury.

Joshua, who holds the IBF, WBA and WBO belts, and Fury, the WBC champion, are in talks to fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship this year. However, WBO officials have made it clear they expect Usyk to get his shot before Joshua and Fury meet.

Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, have suggested that he might vacate the WBO belt in order to make the Fury fight happen and then — if he wins — challenge whomever holds the WBO to become undisputed champion.

However, Usyk, the mandatory WBO challenger for more than a year, is keen to have own title fight after the sanctioning body allowed Joshua to fight Andy Ruiz Jr. a second time and then defend his titles against Kubrat Pulev on Dec. 12.

[lawrence-related id=16962,16535,16405,16394,16371,16366,16305]

Usyk reportedly has indicated that he might be willing to wait a little longer if he were guaranteed a fight with the Joshua-Fury winner and, presumably, compensated financially for stepping aside.

“I think Usyk will be keen to step aside and let the fight happen,” Joshua said. “We’ve reached out to his management team. He’s a reasonable person, and he’ll understand the magnitude of this situation.”

Usyk last fought in November, when he defeated Derek Chisora to retain his mandatory designation.

If Usyk’s team does indeed insist on their title fight and force the WBO to strip Joshua, unbeaten Brit Joe Joyce — who put the first blemish on Daniel Dubois’ record in November — is the leading candidate to battle Usyk for the vacated title.

Also in the running would be the winner of Junior Fa vs. former WBO champ Joseph Parker on Feb. 27.

Anthony Joshua asks Oleksandr Usyk to delay mandatory so he can unify vs. Tyson Fury

Anthony Joshua is hoping that Oleksandr Usyk will delay his mandatory challenge so A.J. can unify the heavyweight titles against Tyson Fury

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Anthony Joshua has asked Oleksandr Usyk to delay his mandatory challenge so A.J. can unify all four major titles against fellow titleholder Tyson Fury.

Joshua, who holds the IBF, WBA and WBO belts, and Fury, the WBC champion, are in talks to fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship this year. However, WBO officials have made it clear they expect Usyk to get his shot before Joshua and Fury meet.

Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, have suggested that he might vacate the WBO belt in order to make the Fury fight happen and then — if he wins — challenge whomever holds the WBO to become undisputed champion.

However, Usyk, the mandatory WBO challenger for more than a year, is keen to have own title fight after the sanctioning body allowed Joshua to fight Andy Ruiz Jr. a second time and then defend his titles against Kubrat Pulev on Dec. 12.

[lawrence-related id=16962,16535,16405,16394,16371,16366,16305]

Usyk reportedly has indicated that he might be willing to wait a little longer if he were guaranteed a fight with the Joshua-Fury winner and, presumably, compensated financially for stepping aside.

“I think Usyk will be keen to step aside and let the fight happen,” Joshua said. “We’ve reached out to his management team. He’s a reasonable person, and he’ll understand the magnitude of this situation.”

Usyk last fought in November, when he defeated Derek Chisora to retain his mandatory designation.

If Usyk’s team does indeed insist on their title fight and force the WBO to strip Joshua, unbeaten Brit Joe Joyce — who put the first blemish on Daniel Dubois’ record in November — is the leading candidate to battle Usyk for the vacated title.

Also in the running would be the winner of Junior Fa vs. former WBO champ Joseph Parker on Feb. 27.

Good, bad, worse: Bring on Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury

Anthony Joshua looked sharp in his victory over Kubrat Pulev on Saturday, which sets up a showdown with Tyson Fury.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

Anthony Joshua (left) had no trouble finding the target against Kubrat Pulev. Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing

Anthony Joshua might’ve found his perfect blend of boxing and aggression.

The heavyweight titleholder’s stunning knockout loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. in June of last year evidently changed him into a more disciplined fighter, one who doesn’t take unnecessary risks in the ring.

He took that to an extreme in the rematch with Ruiz, boxing cautiously to win a wide decision and regain his titles.

On Saturday, he found a balance of risk and reward. He outboxed Kubrat Pulev, patiently setting up power punches and then landing them when he saw openings. The result: He put Pulev down four times, scored a brutal ninth-round knockout and took few punches himself.

Not a bad night’s work.

Now, it’s important to consider the opponent. Pulev looked his age, 39. Most notably, he was slower than I expected him to be. Joshua seemed to see almost all of Pulev’s right-hand power shots coming and had more than enough time to get out of the way.

To be sure, Pulev was a step down from a reasonably fit Ruiz, who’s far more explosive and powerful than Saturday’s loser.

Still, the Bulgarian has to be seen as a solid foe based on his resume. And Joshua handled him with ease, which was an important step for him after a difficult 2019.

I’m going to pick fellow titleholder and countryman Tyson Fury to beat Joshua every day of the week. The Gypsy King is both a better boxer and mentally tougher than his rival, whose only advantage is his punching power.

That said, I think the version of Joshua we saw on Saturday has a chance to beat Fury. He’s a good enough boxer and has enough experience to create opportunities to land big punches.

And he if they land? Well, let’s hope they make the fight as early as possible next year.

***

BAD

This will be Joshua’s next opponent, not Oleksandr Usyk. Al Bello / Getty Images

The handlers of Joshua and Fury are optimistic that a deal on a title-unification fight is within easy reach, which is good news. That’s the biggest-possible fight in boxing. It has to happen ASAP.

The bad news is that the WBO title — currently held by Joshua — might not be at stake, meaning the tantalizing concept of a four-belt, undisputed heavyweight champion could go out the window.

The WBO and Usyk, it’s mandatory challenger, have said they’re unwilling to step aside so Joshua can fight Fury for that belt. They already allowed Joshua to face to Pulev, his IBF mandatory. They say they’re not going to be so generous again.

And one can understand Usyk’s position. Joshua and Fury intend to fight twice next year, meaning the Ukrainian wouldn’t get his shot at the title until 2022. And even a single Joshua-Fury fight would leave Usyk out of the picture until late next year.

The problem for Usyk is that Joshua and Fury seem to have made up their minds, which means that the WBO could strip Joshua of his belt.

If that happens, then only three belts – Joshua’s IBF and WBA, Fury’s WBC – would be on the line when they meet. That’s fine. The winner will be universally seen as the undisputed heavyweight champion regardless of whether the WBO is at the party.

At the same time, it would leave the heavyweight championship fractured, which isn’t ideal.

Usyk would fight for the vacant title, perhaps against No. 2-ranked Joe Joyce. The winner would not be recognized by responsible pundits and fans as a legitimate heavyweight “champion” but that’s what the WBO, the winner, the winner’s promoter and others invested in him will call him.

That diminishes the Joshua-Fury winner’s claim to the championship ever so slightly, which is a shame. The fans deserve one genuine heavyweight champion.

***

WORSE

Oscar Rivas, who weighed 239¼ pounds for his fight against Dillian Whyte in July of last year is ranked No. 1 in the WBC’s new “bridgerweight” division.  Dan Istitene / Getty Images

I was hoping that WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman would come to his senses and abandon the idea of the new “bridgerweight” division between cruiserweight and heavyweight, which has a limit of 224 pounds.

He didn’t. He unveiled his rankings this past week. Here they are:

  1. Oscar Rivas
  2. Ryad Merhy
  3. Kevin Lerena
  4. Dmitry Kudryashov
  5. Evgeny Romanov
  6. Bryant Jennings
  7. Artur Szpilka
  8. Alen Babic
  9. Joel Tambwe Djeko
  10. Shigabudin Aliev
  11. Marco Huck
  12. Bilal Laggoune
  13. Samuel Kadje
  14. Rashid Kodzoev
  15. Isaac Chamberlain

I’ll reiterate that I understand Sulaiman’s thinking. The new division provides a comfortable landing spot for small heavyweights who can’t compete with behemoths like Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

The problems are many, though. The one that bothers me most is that it adds to the glut of so-called titleholders. As it was, with four major sanctioning bodies and 17 divisions, we had 68 championship slots. And that’s not counting the growing number of secondary titles that some people take seriously.

Now, with the new division, we’re adding another title. And if the other sanctioning bodies follow suit – and they probably will – you can three more to that.

When does the madness end?

I had an idea for Sulaiman. OK, if you’re going to add a division, then you must remove one. I suggested he eliminate strawweight. The smallest fighters would have to fight at 108 pounds instead of 105. Sorry.

That way Sulaiman could put to rest the notion that he created the division as a way of making more money. Remember: Fighters must pay for the privilege of fighting for a championship, however dubious that title might be.

Sulaiman named the division after a boy named Bridger who was injured while protecting his sister from an attacking dog. Nice gesture, indeed. However, the name is inconsistent with the more generic labels of the other divisions, although the word “bridge” obviously works more than one way.

If nothing else, Mauricio, change the name. Super cruiserweight makes more sense long term.

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Good, bad, worse: Bring on Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury

Anthony Joshua looked sharp in his victory over Kubrat Pulev on Saturday, which sets up a showdown with Tyson Fury.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

Anthony Joshua (left) had no trouble finding the target against Kubrat Pulev. Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing

Anthony Joshua might’ve found his perfect blend of boxing and aggression.

The heavyweight titleholder’s stunning knockout loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. in June of last year evidently changed him into a more disciplined fighter, one who doesn’t take unnecessary risks in the ring.

He took that to an extreme in the rematch with Ruiz, boxing cautiously to win a wide decision and regain his titles.

On Saturday, he found a balance of risk and reward. He outboxed Kubrat Pulev, patiently setting up power punches and then landing them when he saw openings. The result: He put Pulev down four times, scored a brutal ninth-round knockout and took few punches himself.

Not a bad night’s work.

Now, it’s important to consider the opponent. Pulev looked his age, 39. Most notably, he was slower than I expected him to be. Joshua seemed to see almost all of Pulev’s right-hand power shots coming and had more than enough time to get out of the way.

To be sure, Pulev was a step down from a reasonably fit Ruiz, who’s far more explosive and powerful than Saturday’s loser.

Still, the Bulgarian has to be seen as a solid foe based on his resume. And Joshua handled him with ease, which was an important step for him after a difficult 2019.

I’m going to pick fellow titleholder and countryman Tyson Fury to beat Joshua every day of the week. The Gypsy King is both a better boxer and mentally tougher than his rival, whose only advantage is his punching power.

That said, I think the version of Joshua we saw on Saturday has a chance to beat Fury. He’s a good enough boxer and has enough experience to create opportunities to land big punches.

And he if they land? Well, let’s hope they make the fight as early as possible next year.

***

BAD

This will be Joshua’s next opponent, not Oleksandr Usyk. Al Bello / Getty Images

The handlers of Joshua and Fury are optimistic that a deal on a title-unification fight is within easy reach, which is good news. That’s the biggest-possible fight in boxing. It has to happen ASAP.

The bad news is that the WBO title — currently held by Joshua — might not be at stake, meaning the tantalizing concept of a four-belt, undisputed heavyweight champion could go out the window.

The WBO and Usyk, it’s mandatory challenger, have said they’re unwilling to step aside so Joshua can fight Fury for that belt. They already allowed Joshua to face to Pulev, his IBF mandatory. They say they’re not going to be so generous again.

And one can understand Usyk’s position. Joshua and Fury intend to fight twice next year, meaning the Ukrainian wouldn’t get his shot at the title until 2022. And even a single Joshua-Fury fight would leave Usyk out of the picture until late next year.

The problem for Usyk is that Joshua and Fury seem to have made up their minds, which means that the WBO could strip Joshua of his belt.

If that happens, then only three belts – Joshua’s IBF and WBA, Fury’s WBC – would be on the line when they meet. That’s fine. The winner will be universally seen as the undisputed heavyweight champion regardless of whether the WBO is at the party.

At the same time, it would leave the heavyweight championship fractured, which isn’t ideal.

Usyk would fight for the vacant title, perhaps against No. 2-ranked Joe Joyce. The winner would not be recognized by responsible pundits and fans as a legitimate heavyweight “champion” but that’s what the WBO, the winner, the winner’s promoter and others invested in him will call him.

That diminishes the Joshua-Fury winner’s claim to the championship ever so slightly, which is a shame. The fans deserve one genuine heavyweight champion.

***

WORSE

Oscar Rivas, who weighed 239¼ pounds for his fight against Dillian Whyte in July of last year is ranked No. 1 in the WBC’s new “bridgerweight” division.  Dan Istitene / Getty Images

I was hoping that WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman would come to his senses and abandon the idea of the new “bridgerweight” division between cruiserweight and heavyweight, which has a limit of 224 pounds.

He didn’t. He unveiled his rankings this past week. Here they are:

  1. Oscar Rivas
  2. Ryad Merhy
  3. Kevin Lerena
  4. Dmitry Kudryashov
  5. Evgeny Romanov
  6. Bryant Jennings
  7. Artur Szpilka
  8. Alen Babic
  9. Joel Tambwe Djeko
  10. Shigabudin Aliev
  11. Marco Huck
  12. Bilal Laggoune
  13. Samuel Kadje
  14. Rashid Kodzoev
  15. Isaac Chamberlain

I’ll reiterate that I understand Sulaiman’s thinking. The new division provides a comfortable landing spot for small heavyweights who can’t compete with behemoths like Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

The problems are many, though. The one that bothers me most is that it adds to the glut of so-called titleholders. As it was, with four major sanctioning bodies and 17 divisions, we had 68 championship slots. And that’s not counting the growing number of secondary titles that some people take seriously.

Now, with the new division, we’re adding another title. And if the other sanctioning bodies follow suit – and they probably will – you can three more to that.

When does the madness end?

I had an idea for Sulaiman. OK, if you’re going to add a division, then you must remove one. I suggested he eliminate strawweight. The smallest fighters would have to fight at 108 pounds instead of 105. Sorry.

That way Sulaiman could put to rest the notion that he created the division as a way of making more money. Remember: Fighters must pay for the privilege of fighting for a championship, however dubious that title might be.

Sulaiman named the division after a boy named Bridger who was injured while protecting his sister from an attacking dog. Nice gesture, indeed. However, the name is inconsistent with the more generic labels of the other divisions, although the word “bridge” obviously works more than one way.

If nothing else, Mauricio, change the name. Super cruiserweight makes more sense long term.

[lawrence-related id=16366,16305]

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Anthony Joshua destroys Kubrat Pulev in nine rounds

Anthony Joshua knocked out Kubrat Pulev in nine rounds to retain his heavyweight titles Saturday in London.

The new version of Anthony Joshua boxes more than he once did. He’s more patient. The immense power is the same, though. And once he has you hurt, well, stand by.

Joshua outboxed Kubrat Pulev on Saturday night at SSE Arena in London, much as he did in his victorious rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr. almost exactly a year ago. The heavyweight titleholder gave us more this time, though – more aggression, more passion, more big shots.

The result was impressive: four knockdowns and a ninth-round knockout in the first defense the three titles he regained by outpointed Ruiz.

Many wondered what demeanor Joshua would bring into the ring after his cautious victory over Ruiz, which followed Ruiz’s stunning knockout of Joshua six months earlier.

The champion was more disciplined than cautious, fighting behind a consistent, stiff jab to both the head and body that kept Pulev at a distance favorable to Joshua. And he waited for openings to present themselves. When they did, the Bulgarian challenger paid a price.

The first two-plus rounds were mostly a feel-out session, with Joshua jabbing and Pulev posturing. Then Joshua hurt Pulev with a right hand and everything changed instantly. A flurry of shots resulted in Pulev turning his back on Joshua and he stumbled into a corner, which referee Deon Dwarte ruled a knockdown.

Then one of many right uppercuts Joshua landed in the fight found Pulev’s chin and he went down on his behind for the second knockdown.

The challenger survived the harrowing round and proved to be resilient for a while. After having regained his senses, it was as if he were saying with his actions, “OK, I’ve taken the best you can offer and I’m still here.”

Pulev (28-2, 14 KOs) actually took the fight Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) at times, jabbing fairly consistently and throwing his right hand periodically in an attempt the turn the tide in his favor. They rarely landed, though, making his mission almost impossible.

Meanwhile, Joshua continued to land jabs and fire off occasionally power shots – including rapid-fire uppercuts – but the fight was relatively competitive until late in Round 9.

Then another right uppercut found the mark and was the beginning of the end. Joshua followed that punch with a few more shots inside and Pulev went down again. He managed to get up even though he was hurt but, seconds later, a perfect straight right hand landed on his chin and he fell flat on his back.

This time, he didn’t get up. The fight was over at 2:58 of Round 9. The Joshua who had destroyed everything in his path was back.

“I stuck to what I do best – boxing,” said Joshua, who hadn’t scored a knockout since Alexander Povetkin more than two years ago. “I picked my shots, put them together. And when they’re successful, they’re successful. As I said, it’s just less talk and more action. I don’t even want to do the interview. I just want fans to appreciate the hard work.

“Everyone go home and have a lovely Christmas. And we’ll see reunite in 2021.”

Against whom?

Oleksander Usyk is the mandatory challenger for Joshua’s WBO title and he’s determined to get his opportunity. Everyone else, it seems, wants to see Joshua fight fellow beltholder Tyson Fury in an all-British showdown for the undisputed heavyweight championship.

That was clear during the interview when Joshua was asked whether he wants Fury next. He suggested the interviewer ask those in attendance at SSE Arena, who numbered in the thousands.

“You ask the crowd what they want to see. I’m up for anything. Look at the resume,” Joshua said.

“OK, who wants to see Anthony Joshua fight Tyson Fury in 2021?” the interviewer asked the fans, whose wild cheers made their preference clear.

“Look, when I started in this game in 2013, I’ve been chasing belts, dealing with mandatories,” Joshua said. “Of course, I want a challenge. It’s not about the opponent. It’s about legacy and the belt. Whoever has the belt, I want to compete with them.

“If that’s Tyson Fury, let it be Tyson Fury. The road to the undisputed is almost clear right now.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn, standing beside Joshua during the interview, echoed his fighter’s sentiments. He made it clear that the representatives of the fighters in question would get down to work soon.

“Since he [first] came into the office he wanted to be undisputed champion,” Hearn said. “We’re going to be friendly, we’re going to be nice. We know what we have to do. Starting tomorrow we make the Tyson Fury fight straight away. It’s the only fight to be made in boxing, it’s the biggest fight in boxing, it’s the biggest fight in British boxing history.

“I know [Joshua] wants it. He’s the best heavyweight in the world, I promise you. He’ll break him down, knock him out. … We know what we have to do. It’s about legacy. Let’s get it done.”

[lawrence-related id=16300]

Anthony Joshua destroys Kubrat Pulev in nine rounds

Anthony Joshua knocked out Kubrat Pulev in nine rounds to retain his heavyweight titles Saturday in London.

The new version of Anthony Joshua boxes more than he once did. He’s more patient. The immense power is the same, though. And once he has you hurt, well, stand by.

Joshua outboxed Kubrat Pulev on Saturday night at SSE Arena in London, much as he did in his victorious rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr. almost exactly a year ago. The heavyweight titleholder gave us more this time, though – more aggression, more passion, more big shots.

The result was impressive: four knockdowns and a ninth-round knockout in the first defense the three titles he regained by outpointed Ruiz.

Many wondered what demeanor Joshua would bring into the ring after his cautious victory over Ruiz, which followed Ruiz’s stunning knockout of Joshua six months earlier.

The champion was more disciplined than cautious, fighting behind a consistent, stiff jab to both the head and body that kept Pulev at a distance favorable to Joshua. And he waited for openings to present themselves. When they did, the Bulgarian challenger paid a price.

The first two-plus rounds were mostly a feel-out session, with Joshua jabbing and Pulev posturing. Then Joshua hurt Pulev with a right hand and everything changed instantly. A flurry of shots resulted in Pulev turning his back on Joshua and he stumbled into a corner, which referee Deon Dwarte ruled a knockdown.

Then one of many right uppercuts Joshua landed in the fight found Pulev’s chin and he went down on his behind for the second knockdown.

The challenger survived the harrowing round and proved to be resilient for a while. After having regained his senses, it was as if he were saying with his actions, “OK, I’ve taken the best you can offer and I’m still here.”

Pulev (28-2, 14 KOs) actually took the fight Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) at times, jabbing fairly consistently and throwing his right hand periodically in an attempt the turn the tide in his favor. They rarely landed, though, making his mission almost impossible.

Meanwhile, Joshua continued to land jabs and fire off occasionally power shots – including rapid-fire uppercuts – but the fight was relatively competitive until late in Round 9.

Then another right uppercut found the mark and was the beginning of the end. Joshua followed that punch with a few more shots inside and Pulev went down again. He managed to get up even though he was hurt but, seconds later, a perfect straight right hand landed on his chin and he fell flat on his back.

This time, he didn’t get up. The fight was over at 2:58 of Round 9. The Joshua who had destroyed everything in his path was back.

“I stuck to what I do best – boxing,” said Joshua, who hadn’t scored a knockout since Alexander Povetkin more than two years ago. “I picked my shots, put them together. And when they’re successful, they’re successful. As I said, it’s just less talk and more action. I don’t even want to do the interview. I just want fans to appreciate the hard work.

“Everyone go home and have a lovely Christmas. And we’ll see reunite in 2021.”

Against whom?

Oleksander Usyk is the mandatory challenger for Joshua’s WBO title and he’s determined to get his opportunity. Everyone else, it seems, wants to see Joshua fight fellow beltholder Tyson Fury in an all-British showdown for the undisputed heavyweight championship.

That was clear during the interview when Joshua was asked whether he wants Fury next. He suggested the interviewer ask those in attendance at SSE Arena, who numbered in the thousands.

“You ask the crowd what they want to see. I’m up for anything. Look at the resume,” Joshua said.

“OK, who wants to see Anthony Joshua fight Tyson Fury in 2021?” the interviewer asked the fans, whose wild cheers made their preference clear.

“Look, when I started in this game in 2013, I’ve been chasing belts, dealing with mandatories,” Joshua said. “Of course, I want a challenge. It’s not about the opponent. It’s about legacy and the belt. Whoever has the belt, I want to compete with them.

“If that’s Tyson Fury, let it be Tyson Fury. The road to the undisputed is almost clear right now.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn, standing beside Joshua during the interview, echoed his fighter’s sentiments. He made it clear that the representatives of the fighters in question would get down to work soon.

“Since he [first] came into the office he wanted to be undisputed champion,” Hearn said. “We’re going to be friendly, we’re going to be nice. We know what we have to do. Starting tomorrow we make the Tyson Fury fight straight away. It’s the only fight to be made in boxing, it’s the biggest fight in boxing, it’s the biggest fight in British boxing history.

“I know [Joshua] wants it. He’s the best heavyweight in the world, I promise you. He’ll break him down, knock him out. … We know what we have to do. It’s about legacy. Let’s get it done.”

[lawrence-related id=16300]

Video: Ak, Barak: Anthony Joshua predicts KO of Kubrat Pulev

Anthony Joshua obviously is confident heading into his title defense against Kubrat Pulev on Saturday at SSE Arena in London (DAZN). Joshua is predicting that he’ll stop the veteran challenger, which would be his first knockout since he stopped …

Anthony Joshua obviously is confident heading into his title defense against Kubrat Pulev on Saturday at SSE Arena in London (DAZN).

Joshua is predicting that he’ll stop the veteran challenger, which would be his first knockout since he stopped Alexander Povetkin in seven rounds more than two years ago.

Pulev was KO’d by Wladimir Klitschko in five rounds in 2014, the Bulgarian’s only previous shot at the heavyweight championship.

In this episode of the Ak & Barak Show, DAZN commentators Akin Reyes and Barak Bess discuss the fight with Joshua.

Here’s what he had to say.

The Ak & Barak Show is available on DAZN and Sirius XM Fight Nation, Channel 156.

[jwplayer icrgnvfc]

 

Video: Ak, Barak: Anthony Joshua predicts KO of Kubrat Pulev

Anthony Joshua obviously is confident heading into his title defense against Kubrat Pulev on Saturday at SSE Arena in London (DAZN). Joshua is predicting that he’ll stop the veteran challenger, which would be his first knockout since he stopped …

Anthony Joshua obviously is confident heading into his title defense against Kubrat Pulev on Saturday at SSE Arena in London (DAZN).

Joshua is predicting that he’ll stop the veteran challenger, which would be his first knockout since he stopped Alexander Povetkin in seven rounds more than two years ago.

Pulev was KO’d by Wladimir Klitschko in five rounds in 2014, the Bulgarian’s only previous shot at the heavyweight championship.

In this episode of the Ak & Barak Show, DAZN commentators Akin Reyes and Barak Bess discuss the fight with Joshua.

Here’s what he had to say.

The Ak & Barak Show is available on DAZN and Sirius XM Fight Nation, Channel 156.

[jwplayer icrgnvfc]