By Rameez Haider: Before I get into my article, I want to make it clear that boxing is a subjective sport, based solely on people’s interpretations and opinions. A lot of articles are simply written to cause controversy and to make people comment on how inaccurate the article is. My articles are simply my opinion and a platform for others to share their opinions whether they agree or disagree with me. I am not out to offend anyone or any boxer as I have the upmost respect for anyone with the courage to step foot into the squared circle.
This weekend, IBF World Heavyweight Champion, Anthony Joshua extended his record to 18-0 after beating Eric Molina. A lot has been made about whether AJ is the real deal, the quality of his opponents, his physique being a hindrance and of course does he have the chin to stand up to the elite of the division.
In my opinion what is important to first consider is the fact that AJ has only had 18 pro fights. There is a reason why especially the UK, there is emphasis on British, commonwealth and European titles. The idea is for a boxer to climb through the ranks, gaining experience as they go along until they get to world level, by which time they are well on their way to mastering their craft. When you look at AJ’s opponents, you will find this is the exact same journey he was taken on. It was very clear after his first couple of fights that though the power was there, he was still very green as a boxer and needed to refine the potential into actual skills. There have been major improvements in this. Having watched the fight live at the Manchester Arena this Saturday, you can see his footwork is much better in terms of positioning when throwing the shots, he keeps a high guard on his way in and the speed and power have improved with each fight. However, the biggest improvement that I have seen is the fact that despite the huge frame, he is a lot less rigid and upright now. He is very loose and fluid in fights and has much better head movement.
When you actually look at AJ’s opponents, I would say they are no different in quality to Deontay Wilder, yet Wilder has had double the number of fights. This is not to say Wilder is a bad fighter it is just the route he has taken to try and perfect his craft. What is also important to note, is the manner in which AJ has dispatched all his opponents, stopping Johnson which was never done before, his last 3 fight prior to the Molina fight were all unbeaten fighters with around the same experience and similar records to AJ. Molina himself was coming off a big win against Adamek in Poland and also gave Wilder his toughest test to date. People say none of AJ’s opponents have hit back expect for Dillian Whyte, but surely you have to ask why? Whether some of AJ’s opponents were not the best, they still no how to punch. Molina has hurt pretty much every fighter he has fought so why could he not land a shot on AJ. I find it hard to believe that every fighter who has come across the pond has come to survive and for the pay cheque. For me it is down to the fact that in the ring AJ is a very different proposition to what fighters see when they watch him from outside the ring. He is deceptively fast and has the type of power, whereby even a jab will hurt opponents. Another fighter who I would say is very similar in that sense is GGG. Everyone who has boxed him has echoed the same sentiment, that every one of his punches hurts more than any other boxer.
Will AJ face tougher opponents of course he will, but for him to be facing Wladimir in his 19th fight it shows that the step up begins 29th April, which again is substantially quicker than Wilder, whose 1st real step up came against Stiverne, a test which Wilder passed with flying colours might I add.
People often argue about the physique of AJ and talk about his muscles using up oxygen etc. but I am of the thinking the bigger they are, the harder they fall. I have not seen anything at all to suggest that this muscle is a bad thing. People don’t realise that even as an amateur AJ was a muscular youngster. The body shape he possesses is genetic. If you were to ask Tyson Fury to get into that shape, no matter how hard he tried, he simply would not be able to achieve it. This is in no way disrespectful to Fury, it is just how they are built. Fury’s best weight and physical condition in which he will perform to full potential is different to AJ. His hardest fight was definitely the Whyte fight and in this, despite being rocked, I saw nothing in the 7 rounds which suggested stamina was an issue. He was still throwing combinations, still had the speed and the power to knock Whyte out. When you consider the type of punishment Whyte took from Chisora this weekend, you soon realise the power AJ has as Whyte was caught continuously with big shots by Chisora yet stayed on his feet.
Interestingly enough, Dillian Whyte also goes someway to answering the question of AJ’s chin. AJ was caught flush by Whyte who had knocked out nearly every opponent he fought and though AJ was rocked he took the punch well enough and stayed on his feet. What is important to remember is that this is boxing, everyone gets hit and everyone gets rocked. Floyd Mayweather, the best defensive boxer of all time has been rocked on a few occasions and though the legs have looked unsteady, he kept up and fought on. This has led to people talking about what a great chin he possessed, so why does the fact AJ got rocked mean he has a bad chin. Only time will tell about his ability to take a punch, but to question his chin based on the Whyte fight is totally absurd.
What’s also important to remember is that the AJ vs Whyte fight was personal and AJ let his emotions over take his boxing brain. In that second round after already nearly stopping Whyte in the first, AJ went to punish and hurt Whyte and turned it into a slug fest and it was at this point he was caught. The second he went back to boxing and working behind the jab, Whyte was never in the fight. I don’t see AJ getting so emotionally involved against another fighter.
As a boxing fan I am hugely excited about AJ and I do believe he is the real deal, but only time will tell if I am correct or not. With fights like Haye, Wilder, Fury, Ortiz, Parker etc. what is for sure is that unlike the last 10 years, there are genuine world class contenders for AJ to cement his legacy against.
What I conclude is that though only time will tell us whether AJ is the real deal, it is impossible for anyone to say he is not the real deal as so far every challenge put before him he has passed with flying colours.
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