Well the big one is just around the corner. Anthony Joshua looking to make a fourth defence of his IBF belt and first of his WBA title, is long odds on to make short work of the late replacement Carlos Takam. He shouldn't really have all that much trouble with the Cameroon born, French resident. Despite Eddie Hearn saying that this will be a better fight than the Pulev affair, bookies are not having a bar of it. AJ is about 1-25 and Takam around 16-1.
One of the head turning clips I saw, had Hearn saying that Joshua just might come into the fight a stone lighter than his usual weight. If this true, what's going on? Was this part of the strategy for Pulev? And why? After the Klitschko fight, there was quite a bit said about AJ's apparent lack of foot speed. Nobody is saying that the man can be turned to an on your toes fighter, he'll always be a heavy handed, semi lead footed fighter. But to strip a stone from him is a bold move. Obviously, they know what they're doing. I'm hoping like crazy that he does drop down to somewhere around 235-40 or so. It'll add that little extra mystery to the fight. Takam has only been stopped once in his career, but he's never seen an Anthony Joshua before. AJ by KO for mine.
The Dillian Whyte v Robert Helenius fight could also turn out to be a strange old affair. Hearn has been pushing the Dillian barrow for quite a while now. He wants a second world heavyweight champion on his books, so has been chasing Deontay Wilder like crazy. But Wilder wants none of it, and why should he? Hearn wants the American to fight Whyte to earn a shot at Joshua. The gall of the man. Like him or not, he's a world champion in his own right, and if Hearn is serious about a massive fight then let Joshua take his WBA mandatory then set up the mega fight. **** Whyte. Don't get me wrong, I like Dillian's trash talking and the way he fights, but why throw a poodle in between two pit bulls? Whyte had his hands full when he met Chisora, so I can't see him being in Wilder's league. And I think Joshua has moved up another level or two since he met Whyte, but the latter looks as though he may have just inched ahead.
On that fight with Helenius, Whyte has a lot to lose. He should easily win the fight, but if he can't get an average fighter like Helenius out of there in stunning fashion, he's going to lose some serious cred. I've been looking at some of Helenius' latest bouts, and he looks awful. Between them, his last three opponents have won 106 bouts but have lost or drawn a combined 45. Hardly great records. Helenius has only been stopped once, so if Whyte makes a dog's dinner of it and can't bomb him out, then he's not the fighter some folk think him to be.
One of the head turning clips I saw, had Hearn saying that Joshua just might come into the fight a stone lighter than his usual weight. If this true, what's going on? Was this part of the strategy for Pulev? And why? After the Klitschko fight, there was quite a bit said about AJ's apparent lack of foot speed. Nobody is saying that the man can be turned to an on your toes fighter, he'll always be a heavy handed, semi lead footed fighter. But to strip a stone from him is a bold move. Obviously, they know what they're doing. I'm hoping like crazy that he does drop down to somewhere around 235-40 or so. It'll add that little extra mystery to the fight. Takam has only been stopped once in his career, but he's never seen an Anthony Joshua before. AJ by KO for mine.
The Dillian Whyte v Robert Helenius fight could also turn out to be a strange old affair. Hearn has been pushing the Dillian barrow for quite a while now. He wants a second world heavyweight champion on his books, so has been chasing Deontay Wilder like crazy. But Wilder wants none of it, and why should he? Hearn wants the American to fight Whyte to earn a shot at Joshua. The gall of the man. Like him or not, he's a world champion in his own right, and if Hearn is serious about a massive fight then let Joshua take his WBA mandatory then set up the mega fight. **** Whyte. Don't get me wrong, I like Dillian's trash talking and the way he fights, but why throw a poodle in between two pit bulls? Whyte had his hands full when he met Chisora, so I can't see him being in Wilder's league. And I think Joshua has moved up another level or two since he met Whyte, but the latter looks as though he may have just inched ahead.
On that fight with Helenius, Whyte has a lot to lose. He should easily win the fight, but if he can't get an average fighter like Helenius out of there in stunning fashion, he's going to lose some serious cred. I've been looking at some of Helenius' latest bouts, and he looks awful. Between them, his last three opponents have won 106 bouts but have lost or drawn a combined 45. Hardly great records. Helenius has only been stopped once, so if Whyte makes a dog's dinner of it and can't bomb him out, then he's not the fighter some folk think him to be.
My god the heart Takam showed was terrific, he comes out the real winner on the night. Not AJs best night but he keeps on winning so hard to knock too much. Possible he tires late on, lot of muscle to carry for a full fight distance? 
) against a smarter boxer who would simply play with him for the twelve rounds and win on points. What AJ has is power, which is obviously a fair old compensator in this division but he’s nowhere near the overall package Fury is, and with Fury’s ring craft the power would be taken away by being elusive and using his long jab and moving, which Fury does the best of any heavy. Please note I am fully aware this is never going to happen mind you but I’ve let you all know what WOULD have happened...