Boxing 2023

[dave.woodhall]

Presume it’s a dazn bill Dave?

Indeed it is.

[Gareth]

Cheers - 5live it will be then :-)

[dave.woodhall]

That was poor. Chisora is so shot he's almost in pieces.

[Risso]

Decent punch from Joshua to put him away, but other than that, meh.

[Rory]

Decent punch from Joshua to put him away, but other than that, meh.

Yeah, did what he had to do. He did seem to be getting frustrated in rds6-7, which I guess is understandable given the expectation of an early KO.

The Wilder fight might be perfect for him now, because nobody will be expecting an AJ win unless it goes to the cards or by stoppage late on. Pressure would be well and truly off, because Wilder would be a huge favourite.

[Risso]

I think Wilder will batter him. If it ever happens.

[Rory]

I think Wilder will batter him. If it ever happens.

You may well be right, but Joshua is a much tidier puncher than Wilder. If he can manage the space and they're both throwing punches, AJ's will get there first.

If he backs up, he's got no chance.

[Risso]

He will back up though, it's what he does without fail against difficult opponents.

[Rory]

He will back up though, it's what he does without fail against difficult opponents.

Yeah well if so, I'd be surprised if it went three rounds. I think he has the raw ingredients to beat him, but obviously not confident he would be able to apply them. Since the first Ruiz fight, he's looked afraid of being hit, and unless he can sort that, it would be madness to take on Wilder.

[dave.woodhall]

Gal Yafai's fighting at a (presumably not very full) ICC tonight.

[dave.woodhall]

And won after 1:40 of the first round.

[Villa Lew]

Anyone going for a Dubois win tonight? Bookies are offering 7/1.

It's on TNT Box Office

[dave.woodhall]

It's strange how little publicity a British heavyweight fighting the legitimate world champion is getting. Usyk late on is my prediction.

[Rory]

It's strange how little publicity a British heavyweight fighting the legitimate world champion is getting. Usyk late on is my prediction.

I was chatting with my Dad earlier, who is a very casual boxing fan (mainly the '70s heavyweights, but also the Eubank, Benn & Collins era). I mentioned maybe watching the fight on box office or whatever, and he seemed receptive, but then the conversation went roughly:

Him: "I thought Fury was the champ? How did this other bloke (Usyk) get three belts?"
Me: "He won them off Joshua."
Him: "So Joshua beat Fury?"
Me: "No, Fury and Joshua haven't fought."
Him: "Where did Fury get his belt?"
Me: "He beat Wilder."
Him: "Who?"
Me: "Deontay Wilder. American. He had one belt, which Fury took when he beat him."
Him: "...So Joshua beat Wilder before Fury beat him?"
Me: "No, Wilder and Joshua haven't fought."
Him: "So Wilder hasn't fought Usyk?"
Me: "No."
Him: "And Fury hasn't fought Usyk or Joshua, and Joshua hasn't fought Wilder."
Me: "Yes, but they're looking at lining up the Wilder/Joshua fight."
Him: "So the winner of that will be?..."
Me: "Erm, well, nothing, because the belts will still be held by Fury and Usyk - if Usyk wins."
Him: "Then the winner of Fury & Usyk will fight the winner of Wilder/Joshua?"
Me: "Well not necessarily, because Fury has another fight first, Usyk has to win tonight, but if those both happen, and if Joshua beats Wilder, Usyk has already beaten Joshua twice, so won't be interested, and if Wilder beats AJ, Fury has already won a trilogy against him, so won't want to bother with a fourth..."
Him: "Okay..."
Me: "Right, so-"
Him: "Oh bollocks to it, I don't care anymore."

[Villa Lew]

That was very impressive from Hamzah Sheeraz.