Wilder struggles to fill venues because his opponents are generally ****. Wilder v Ortiz was 14,000-odd and that's a lot for the US. Canelo v Golovkin 2 was in a 20,000 capacity venue. If that was over here then it would've been a far larger attendance.
I still remember like yesterday when he wobbled Tyson but wasn’t quick enough in mind or body to finish him off.
Tyson had the fastest hands I’d seen on a heavyweight since Ali. He was also a far more talented boxer than many gave him credit for. I think he would have caught Joshua with one those lightening fast right crosses that took out so many of his opponents. Who knows? 2 rounds, 4 or 5, but the Tyson of the mid 80’s would have knocked him out for sure.
Just seen Joshua's interview on BBC Sport. He comes across well. Got a good head on his shoulders, something you don't often see these days. I haven't seen last night's fight yet but there's always been something of the Bruno about him for me. Maybe just because of his build and stance. I hope the lad continues to learn and knock down everyone put in front of him. He could become one of our greats if he's given the chance and it would be unfair to judge him on the basis of the quality of the opposition.
There’s a lot of Joshua hate out there it seems, no idea why. He’s done absolutely everything that could have been expected of him. Comparisons with fighters from a previous era are pointless, he can only knock over what’s around now, and he is doing, with aplomb.
I don’t hate him, mate. He's the best there is around and is deservedly the champion. I guess, like a lot of us older blokes, I’m just sad about the decline of talent in heavyweight boxing.
Yeh, I'm puzzled by it too. And comparing him with Tyson or Ali or whoever. It's like comparing football 40 years ago and the game today. What's the bloody point? I've never understand that argument.
The division is becoming much more interesting, there’s some big fights looming and if you look back at the career of Tyson and have a look at some of the road sweepers, has beens and bloated cruiser weights he knocked over, ‘tis easy to don the rose tinteds mate.
I think we all are. We've been lucky to live through the golden age of heavyweight boxing. Things come and go. There'll hopefully be another golden age. We're just in a trough at the minute.
Not just Tyson. There was Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Lewis. Even Bruno would probably be holding one or more of the belts right now.
Even the less successful guys, the likes of Spinks, Weatherspoon, Coetzee, Birbeck, would probably be holding holding belts today. That's how far I think the standards, or even the glamour, have fallen. Boxing was one way for guys to get out of the ghetto back in the day, though Tyson seemed to be the only one trying to fight his way back into the ghetto How times have changed.
Read his autobiography recently. He was one nasty ****er as a youngster. He really intended to hurt some of his opponents. It’s not a bad read, but descends into self indulgence and pity.
He was actually a far better boxer than he was given credit for, D’Amato trained him well. Fastest hands for a heavyweight I’d seen since Ali
