Most impressive first year of a heavyweight

The rate of improvement is half the thing. I thought he looked pretty crap at the olympics; I said 'meh' out loud on his debut. But the progress is noticeable & he's still only 24.

 

Come on Hay, jump on board the hype train!! :elmo: Its more fun on here.

 

Me too. I mehhed really hard on the Olympics as Joshua was getting by burning his energy to long distance slapping but he seems much better now. The big guys tend to develop slow, especially the ones that start late.

 

Honestly? Not since the Klischkos started making some noise. Even Wlad seemed like a surefire bust before he hooked up with Manny and turned his career around. It's sad that they're the measuring stick of this era, but that's the truth. All HW that showed some signs of promise ended up walking into the Klischko wall or ended up losing before getting there.

 

Joshua definitely looks the most promising since the Klits I'd say.

 

You're way off base with your ping of Joshua. You said he looks no better than Michael Grant ::

Did you watch more than like 10 seconds of the fight? As Hut alluded to, he looks solid rather than athletic.

He's not even particularly athletic, truth be told, he just looks like a good, solid fighter who knows what he's doing in there, especially for a guy with 1 year's pro experience.

 

Seriously? That's the first thing that you notice. It's easy to look like a good solid fighter who knows what he's doing there with A) His athleticism/size B) The kind of bland competition he's been facing.

 

:: Not saying I will never give him his props. I will do so when he earns it. Hell, I just read his post fight comments and he's even harder on himself that I am and that's a good thing.

 

That's not remotely true. Athletic fighters can look basic, clumsy, amateurish, just as much as anyone else. Look at Michael Grant flailing around like a clubfighter in that video.

The main difference with Joshua is that he looks solid. Good balance as Hut said, good accuracy, good jab, good fundamentals, and patient. What's impressive about him is nothing to do with athleticism.

 

I am impressed by his hawt bod though. Big points for non-fatness.

 

I don't know what's your definition of good fundamentals because he's been beating his opponents with his reach and speed. He overwhelms them, overpowers them. There's the obvious holes in defense when he gambles too much for the KO, keeps his hands low, perfect for a nice right counter. What's impressive about him is that he's 6'6 and moves fast on his feet and has fast hands. Let's see him getting challenged by a solid opponent because that's when he'll show how good his fundamentals are.

 

Him and Haye are the most chiseled-bodied British HW's of all time. :limp:

 

My definition of good fundamentals are good jab, good balance, decent defense, crisp punches thrown correctly. Just good basic boxing ability. Joshua has those things, for a guy that's been a pro for a year anyway.

Again, I don't see him as particularly fast handed or fast on his feet. Somewhat for his size I guess, but put it this way, even 38 year old wald pussy has faster hands.

 

Ok then. We'll agree to disagree :will:

 

FYEWWWWD!!!!!!

 

I remember on "Greatest Heavyweights" on SEGA, my character Phil McCracken got off to a blazing start... 15-0, 15 KOs

He retired after I got playstation

 

Was he British?
















What? :dunno:

 

::

 

"Phil McCracken" ::, that's a good'un

 

That Joshua fellow seems to have huge potential. He wa really impressive against BAktov.

 

Frank Bruno laughs at this.

 

Manny took Wlad and had him fight exactly like Vitali fought under Sdunek for years. Wlad was considered the better heavyweight by most when he was aggressive and Vitali was defensive.

 

[video=youtube;KxulRJW47_E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxulRJW47_E[/video]

"BOX, SUCKA!"

 

bullshit man, that guy has SOOOOO much potential

 

allah akbar

 

Bahtov was wiped out years ago by Sinan Samil Sam. The guy is fucking shot to pieces.

 

Pretty much. Also, he leaves his legs behind him and leans in. Fury beat John McDermott after 9 or 10 fights, and McDermott is VASTLY superior to Bahtov.

 

Grant had two amateur fights. Count them. TWO.

 

Johnson will move and clown and frustrate him. It would be a great fight for a learning exercise, a horrible fight for a promotional exercise.

 

Wlad turned pro aged 19 or 20. So if big guys develop late, his first year is aged 20-21 and Joshuas is 23-24. Could explain the difference.