by Robert Uzzell – Part of me wishes that Don King were still relevant in boxing- at least in the heavyweight division. If you take Wladimir Klitschko out of the equation, you could have a tournament with a nice list of heavyweights.
Bryant Jennings gave Klitschko a good run earlier this year but fell short. Jennings makes the tournament based on the fact he’s young, lets his hands go, and he can move and box. Jennings is scheduled to fight the next man on the list on December 19.
Luis Ortiz. The big Cuban makes the list for obvious reasons: He knocks people out! He’s a BIG heavyweight and he’s 23-0 with 20 KOs. I can’t wait until December 19. Each man will test the other’s style.
Next up is definitely Alexander Povetkin. He would be a favorite to win it all. His only loss in 31 fights is to Klitschko. He can box and has KO power. Nobody would want to draw him first in a heavyweight tournament.
Deontay Wilder. We know with him that there will be damage done. He doesn’t have the best chin. However, he has length and power and he’s young and strong. Wilder can’t be in a boring fight. His potent offense and lack of great defense ensures it.
Tyson Fury. He has a date with Wladimir Klitschko on November 28. When they enter the ring, Wladimir will be looking up to an opponent for the first time in memory. Fury is young; he can fight orthodox or southpaw, and has a mouthpiece that can sell ANY fight.
You can also mix other fighters in as dark-horse candidates, like a Bermane Stiverne and an Amir Mansour. You add a fighter like Mansour because he brings a few things to the table that fans want to see. He brings knockout power! He’s also a guy that will give chase all night to try to stop any opponent he faces.
The pressure he applies would be tough to deal with. He’s also a southpaw, which adds another piece of the puzzle to the mix.
THEN THE WILDCARD WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR. Mr. Anthony Joshua. Anthony is 6 foot 6 with an 82-inch reach. He is 26 years old and chiseled like a Greek god. Currently Anthony is 14-0, with 14 KOs. He won the British heavyweight title in his last fight. He’s never gone past the third round as a professional boxer. Then again, neither did MMA star Rhonda Rousey before she was ordained the sport’s most dominant athlete and unbeatable by many experts. Therefore, we need to ask the appropriate questions about Joshua.
So who exactly is Anthony Joshua? Anthony Joshua is a 2012 Olympic gold medalist. He’s been moved well up to this point. He’s beaten a few has-beens along the way in Matt Skelton, Kevin Johnson, and Michael Sprott.
Johnson had never been close to being stopped, but Joshua got him out of there. As a result, I think his power is legit and on the world-class level.
A glance at his amateur record shows that he was late bloomer. He began boxing at age 18 in 2007. I’ve seen a few of his amateur bouts where he was hurt considerably while exchanging blows with an opponent. He’s also been soundly defeated via standing eight counts. Olympic rulings are lot more designed for fighter safety, so stoppages aren’t the same as in the pros. I’ve also seen him come back from big shots and fight on as an amateur.
One fighter that Joshua lost to in the amateur ranks was Dillian Whyte. He lost a three-round unanimous decision in 2009 as a super heavyweight. On December 12, Joshua gets a chance at redemption as he takes on White, who is 16-0 with 13 KOs. Maybe we’ll get some questions answered about Joshua in this fight.
Will Joshua be a star and help bring back the heavyweight division with his size and knockout power? Maybe. If he fought Wladimir Klitschko in 2017, would he beat him? I’d be willing to wager he would be ready for the challenge. If he fought Deontay Wilder tomorrow, where would my money go? I’d take Joshua in a heartbeat.
Anthony Joshua has all the tools to be great. He has good technique. He has amazing talent. The power is there and so is the size. I’m very high on the young man. His people believe he’s ready for Klitschko and the rest of the pack RIGHT NOW!
I wouldn’t rush him. He was The Ring magazine prospect of the year in 2012. He’s only 26 and his level of competition through 14 fights might be better than Wilder’s was through twice as many fights. He is slowly gaining crossover status in the United Kingdom. Once he’s built up a little more, I think the sky’s the limit.
However, let’s not forget this matter on December 12. Holy Holm was considered a massive underdog, but also formidable for an upset over Rousey because of her background. Dillian White is in the same petition. He can derail Joshua’s plans with one punch and I’m sure Team Joshua is well aware.
If Anthony Joshua gets by White, I look for him to be moved for a title shot by 2016. Of course, he must keep winning a few more times for it to happen. He passes the eye test with me. I think Anthony Joshua is going to be a tough out in the future. Win, lose, or draw, I think he will be a future champion or at the very least a Top 10 guy for many years to come. Keep a look out for Anthony Joshua. He’s a star in the making.
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