Heavyweight Boxing

squinn2912

Title fights are all tied up for the foreseeable so he could look to get a fight with whyte or the likes of Ruiz, Hrgovic or some of those guys in the wings. One wrong loss for any of these fellas and they turn into gatekeepers for younger prospects

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121872814#Comment_121872814

ZHANG threw 0 punches in the last round. Can’t see him fight again

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121873312#Comment_121873312

Huh? Was it not laned 0?

blade1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121872599#Comment_121872599

I forgot the Dubois fight............ actually no wait, I'm not counting that. That wasn't a boxing match. That was a robbery 😁

reclose

While AJ is waiting for Fury/Usyk, I think Parker or Wilder are the best two fights for him in terms of name recognition and to keep his profile hot with the public demanding he’s next for Fury/Usyk.

Another good fight for him would be an aggressive performance against Ruiz and stopping him.

squinn2912

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121874553#Comment_121874553

They would all be good wins but they’re dangerous for him too. I could see him wheeling out a Chisora or Whyte type sooner. I wouldn’t be shocked if he took on Joyce or someone like that. A big ko type win. His last few matches hes been able to make shite look like gold

OmegaGene

Anyone going to watch Joe Joyce v kash Ali next week ? Kash has been training at the set up Peter fury has, I’m not giving him a chance but as we know it’s heavyweight boxing and he could land a heavy bite on the clinch

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121874625#Comment_121874625

I’m thinking target Hrgovic next. Needs a fight against proper rated opponent if he cannot fight Fury next. Wallin was dreadful, and Francis just as dreadful.

squinn2912

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121875164#Comment_121875164

Nothing guaranteed for Joyce there but he should come out on top. Stop him in about 6 and get a bit of a workout

squinn2912

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121875429#Comment_121875429

I think Hrgovic is a big risk for him. I’d be thinking a bit more of frank sanchez maybe but I think he’s southpaw

OmegaGene

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121875429#Comment_121875429

that is the fight that should be made next, decent opponent and a few quid for both lads and then the winner is next in line for a legit title shot, it is all wetl and good the saudi blokes calling random fights but the sanctioning bodies have rules and mandatories should take precedence

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121875611#Comment_121875611

Risk of what? Losing?

is that how pathetic a sport this has become…?

It’s not like AJ is starting out. He’s winding down now. The best should be at least fighting top talent

but Frank Sanchez would be a good call as well

blade1

Think it'll need to be some sort of name for AJ.

He wants as much money as possible before finishing up.

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121875841#Comment_121875841

Even fighting poor and weaker opposition he’s making sh1t loads a money..

AJ has a few fights left. They need to be against quality. The cash is there, regardless.

he must be worth 150 million pounds at least now.

blade1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121875865#Comment_121875865

They don't need to be quality.

Did u not see who he just fought?

He'd make more money fighting Jake Paul or Conor McGregor than anyone outside the top 3.

OmegaGene

The deal he signed with matchroom had a value of 100m and shares on dazn so he’s not struggling for money

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121876072#Comment_121876072

Are we confusing each other?

my point was that fighting weak opposition he still can make heaps a money. I know this.

I am saying that at this stage of his career he needs his last few fights to be against talent. Talent that can improve and enrich his legacy.

chap is extremely wealthy. No matter who he fights, he will make heaps a money. But for legacy and standing and real boxing credibility, he needs to fight and beat quality

Joshua could retire in the morning and his next several generations won't exactly need to worry about popping down to the local foodbank.

blade1

I know he's loaded.

The more you have the more you want.

He said it himself several times lately, even when he was asked in the post fight interview he said , if the money is right, it's all about the money.

OmegaGene

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121876157#Comment_121876157

in his comeback fight after losing to usyk he said he's a prize fighter only cares about money and lately he's saying its all about legacy and titles, aj is told what to say for these interviews and the only time you hear the real him is when he is free styling on the microphone after a fight i think

walshb

Freestyling on the mic embarrassing himself!!

blade1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121876319#Comment_121876319

Which is when he last said it

blade1

Also 39.5million purse for fighting a novice.

Sure, nothing to do with the money of course.

Why didn't he do it for a paltry 20million if he doesn't need it.

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121876394#Comment_121876394

He doesn’t need it…

but he may want it

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121876394#Comment_121876394

Some bender at HMRC over the weekend!

reclose

Hrgovic is going to act like most other mandatory challengers have the past 20 years so and fight weak opposition until the cash out title shot comes. He’s not going to fight AJ as a keep active fight.

AJ could take safe fights but I think he has an opportunity to really build some hype here if he picks Parker/Wilder/Ruiz.

If he beats two of them the Fury or Usyk fight will be billed as a 50/50 AJ back to his best etc etc.

OmegaGene

I was watching Ade and Gman do a video and Ade said he’s heard a story from a good source that explains why Andy ruiz hasn’t fought in a while but he said he can’t let the cat out of the bag just yet

so that has me thinking it’s either an injury or a ban but I’m sure we will find out at some point

anyone thinking of going to the Whyte fight on the 17th ? I’m half tempted

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121876527#Comment_121876527

Fight AJ as keep active?

It would likely be his biggest ever payday by quite a bit to just fight AJ (without a title on the line).

There would be no reason not to want the fight..

cash out title fight could be v Usyk. No way this comes financially near to even a non-title fight v AJ

reclose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121876901#Comment_121876901

A loss to AJ and that mandatory slot could be gone. No?

I can’t see him fighting anyone of note unless the belt is on the line.

Look at his last opponent.

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121877403#Comment_121877403

I don’t think your take on it makes as much sense as mine.

Yes, his last foe was dreadful. But I doubt Hrgovic is trying his best not to slip-up to the point where a huge lifetime changing payday v AJ would be passed up.

Unless money means very little to him, and the title (with an ordinary pay packet) is much more important than a huge AJ payday

OmegaGene

If the Saudi team offer hrgovic 10 to 20m he would take the fight with Aj I’m sure, it’s money in the bank and a huge fight

his other option is to fight a dosser for low money waiting a year at least for his possible shot at fury or Usyk that quite frankly might never happen

blade1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121876505#Comment_121876505

Finally. That's exactly what I mean.

Don't know why ye brought "he doesn't need it" in the equation.

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121877461#Comment_121877461

agreed what someone like Hrgovic wants is a money fight and AJ is THE money fight, title or not.

yourdeadwright

Fighting is crazy

18 months ago there was so many big fights we wanted to see but now most of them fighters have lost |& there is really only 2 big fights in the division left,

Whats up with Andy Ruiz by the way

OmegaGene

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121878170#Comment_121878170

There’s. Story about to break according to Ade that hosts dazn and has his own podcast

funny old game dubois and Parker are now in the top five you would say and wilder dropped out quickly

walshb

Biggest issue with boxing these days and recently is that it is now so much more a business and marketing game as opposed to a sport. Years ago it was a sport, as well as a business. Almost 50-50; seems 90-10 now a business

walshb

On AJ-Wilder.....a while back I was 55-45 AJ to win. Now I am 75-25. Of course, Wilder still could KO AJ, but I think Wilder is quite a bit passed his best, and even tough he still has power, I think his delivery system, speed, timing and confidence are not enough to beat AJ. I reckon AJ blasts him out early and clinically

eagle eye

Andy Lee has done a great job with Parker. He looks a different fighter now.

The Nal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121878694#Comment_121878694

Have no idea where AJ is at the moment. Since Usyk hes looked great but only fought bums.

yourdeadwright

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121878794#Comment_121878794

Maybe its what he needed to get his confidence back,

They done a great job, steered cleared of Wilder & Parker took care of that problem & no there is next to no big hitter left for him to worry about,

Wilder ,Zang , Ortiz where all guys AJ was going to try keep away from when they where in there primes ,

yourdeadwright

Hard to think that Parker is only gone 32 ,

Such a shame he doesn't carry much power it is the one thing that hold him back from the lads at the very top .

Hes very well rounded with no glaring weakness but he also has not jump out strengths

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121878743#Comment_121878743

Because he beat a woeful Wilder and out-pointed a very lazy Zhang?

Looks a different fighter how, exactly?

Anytime Zhang hit him clean, he was hurt, and had Zhang any fight/desire he would have taken Parker out.

Lee may well be good/great, but based off the last two fights, albeit wins, it's not easy to assess.

several folks here backed Joe (or at least gave him a real good chance) to beat Wilder and Zhang. Me being one.

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121878794#Comment_121878794

I don’t think AJ is suddenly some killer now, back to his best. It’s as much to do with a belief that Wilder really has regressed

OmegaGene

Before Andy Lee was training Parker he could last 12 rounds without switching off and going into his own world , I think he’s fitter than ever before always alert and lighter on his feet.

he may not be a power puncher but he certainly rocked Zhang the other night who didn’t seem phased at all by any of the punches Joe Joyce landed on him

yourdeadwright

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121878997#Comment_121878997

To be fair Parker looks better,

Hes stays focused & is following game plans, he's also fitter & faster than before

Still he won't ever be a champions again

OmegaGene

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121879411#Comment_121879411

he is young enough to be around when the belts are fragmented, if zhang decides he's too old to go again then parker is interim champion

reclose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121879411#Comment_121879411

I think he could be. There’s a good chance Usyk, Wilder and Fury could be retired by the end of next year.

That would leave AJ on top with Parker and one or two others possibly picking up a single belt or two.

squinn2912

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121880788#Comment_121880788

Things can change very quickly. When Joyce KOd him he looked like a busted flush. A year later and Joyce is in that position after Zhang demolished him twice. If he was foolish the first fight I don’t have a word for his plan on the second one but that’s another discussion on its own.

When Wlad had the belts we all thought he’d easily beat Fury. What was he then about 37? Not ancient for such a good and dominant champion. Anyhow, FFD another while and who could have ever dreamed that Prince Charles would have a go at being king?! Not only that but Stiverne would hold a belt, then Wilder would outpoint him. Joshua gets in easy with Martin and then he gets to fight Wlad for 2 more belts (in Fury’s absence). The landscape can flip on its head in no time at all. Parker on any day is better than Martin so he would have cause for optimism if he keeps himself right and is ready to take an opportunity. It’s not at all inconceivable that he’d take on someone like Anderson or Dubois for a belt in about 18 months. He’d have a good chance against those. A rematch with Joyce could well happen. He has to keep on winning and let the rest play out. He will be a part of big cards doing that.

walshb

Kind of highlights the state of the division if Parker could be called a HW champion again . I like him, and he has some good traits, but he is not that good, lads. He really isn’t.

OmegaGene

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121884726#Comment_121884726

Take out the top three and he’s there or there abouts

we are screwed when those 3 lads retire