Anthony Joshua v Jermaine Franklin April 1st

I think it's a bit early to be writing Joshua off, he's won by points twice, Parker didn't want to fight and he outpointed Ruiz coming off the ko loss where he attacked too much and got whacked... Sure he lost to usyk twice but usyk is a supreme boxer and just outclassed him, don't think Joshua's mentality had anything to do with it, the better guy beat him, I though AJ gave a good account v usyk.

Anyway maybe he is done but I'm not sure the evidence from his fights is there yet .. we'll see here and when he takes on whyte next.

Oh not writing him off. He showed well in rematch with Usyk. Ruiz though eh, did what he had to do. But imo could have done much more. Mentality has majority to do with any fighter, especially off back to back losses. It's pretty clear he feels the need for more aggression and 'clearing' the slate, talking about going to war and mind being right. It just seems he does struggle with finding a center balance between the two approaches.

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Originally Posted by palmerq

I think it's a bit early to be writing Joshua off, he's won by points twice, Parker didn't want to fight and he outpointed Ruiz coming off the ko loss where he attacked too much and got whacked... Sure he lost to usyk twice but usyk is a supreme boxer and just outclassed him, don't think Joshua's mentality had anything to do with it, the better guy beat him, I though AJ gave a good account v usyk.

Anyway maybe he is done but I'm not sure the evidence from his fights is there yet .. we'll see here and when he takes on whyte next.

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i agree with almost everything except that i think aj's mentality had a lot to do with the result in the first fight & by his outburst after the second i'd have to say it affected the result there as well but i agree the better guy beat him

I think the Ruiz performance in the rematch was quite deliberate though, it's not unusual for a boxer to be cautious and dominate and win on points in that sort of situation.. anyway not long left to find out how he's doing now, if he grinds out a dull win v franklin I'll have to agree that Joshua doesn't have it anymore.

Actually I'm now convinced by this montage, he's hitting a tree with an axe, his alarm goes off at 2am(not sure why) and he's in a bath holding his breath underwater :S... Much more impressive than rocky beating his frozen meat.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

It's pretty clear he feels the need for more aggression, talking about going to war and mind being right. It just seems he does struggle with finding a center balance between the two approaches.

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some of derrick james' guys thrive on the inside & aren't afraid to get touched, i hope derrick has help aj in this area

These video packages aren't so bad but I think the Klitschkos had the best video entrances.

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Originally Posted by palmerq

I think the Ruiz performance in the rematch was quite deliberate though, it's not unusual for a boxer to be cautious and dominate and win on points in that sort of situation.. anyway not long left to find out how he's doing now, if he grinds out a dull win v franklin I'll have to agree that Joshua doesn't have it anymore.

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Never said he was total and done ;D. Styles make fights indeed, he wasn't beating Usyk though his best shot was when he had him in serious trouble 2nd fight. He just couldn't catch up and read Usyk properly in the moment. Love to see him find a center, capitalize on power at all levels, not just looking to blow a Franklin away. Doing that could run him into something silly. Keep it smart, but be that big big man.

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Originally Posted by TIC

fabio wardley gets a fourth round knockout. stoppage was a bit early

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Just caught that definitely looked premature.

It was the traditional foreigner in Britain stoppage:S.. don't think it changed much though

AJ very tennative in the first round, cannot get the jab going but does enough to win the round.

not much between them in the first. gave it to aj

Joshua still feeling that Ruiz KO

If his hands got any closer to his chin his fingers will be his teeth.

gave the second to aj. close round

Big shout of to blurry streams on FB ;D. Crowd sound massive

AJ nose is bloodied and landed better shots in the second round.

gave the third to jermaine

AJ wins 3rd round but Franklin taking the blows and smiling.

Really do not like the weight for the AJ gas tank. Frankling talking him up and warming to it.

gave the fourth to aj

AJ landing the jab in the 4th round but Franklin getting more and more confident.

That was a good uppercut in the fifth round by franklin he was under a bit of pressure too then, nice work

It’s was a TKO bit really Ruiz cut off Joshuas right arm, metaphorically.

Unless Franklin is just that good.

fifth to aj

Pretty sharp 5th for AJ, rapid jab and righthand. Even when missed did well to cup Franklin and bring him in close.

Franklin has got fast hands and gave him the 5th but could go either way.

4-1 AJ

Franklin is pretty handy and Joshua does get hit a fair bit, looks like Joshua ahead on the cards, wouldn't be the biggest shock if he gets stopped though, he takes too many hits.

gave aj the sixth

Big problem with having a very solid beard is needing to always prove it. Frankling falling into that now

AJ wins 6th but again close the jab is getting through but no major effect.

AJ jabbing and when he throws the right it’s like a touch and pull, tips him on the nose and pulls it.

Seems scared to just laser it straight through him.

I’m not scoring this one but I think AJ is winning but it isn’t amazing.

seventh to aj

Give Franklin the 7th but Belles has given them all to AJ.

Joshua is doing a nice powerful jab, he's no Wladimir with the left hook and right hand though, he should call him in to try to give him some advice, maybe...

Started the 8th better. Harder right.

Franklin would do well to look around and raise his own stakes here. All chips in at this stage.

Scrappy 8th which AJ won by leaning and holding. Not impressive.

aj the eighth

nineth to aj

Both holding in round 9 and ref tells them off. This is turning messy.