The AJ train continues

WBA and IBF Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua defeated late replacement Carlos Takam in front of 75,000 fans in the Principality Stadium, Cardiff last night. The bout was better than advertised with Takam putting up a spirited display before the referee intervened to call a halt to the content in the 10th round.

Expect the unexpected

Most people expected the title bout to be an easy outing for Joshua, with Takam’s come-forward style being tailor made for the big Brit. However Takam started the fight cautious and the contest really didn’t take off until a headbutt caused damage to Joshua’s nose. Joshua was visibly troubled by the head clash, at first gesturing to the ref before taking his frustration out on Takam by opening up on the Cameroonian.

The pattern of the fight was set. Joshua coming forward throwing hurtful blows with Takam countering with the occasional sorties. Joshua soon opened up cuts over both of Takam’s eyes, and dropped his opponent in the fourth.

Despite his weight, height, reach, strength and power disadvantages, Takam proved a game and tough opponent for Joshua. However the referee seemed poised to put Takam out of his misery from the fourth onwards, twice calling the doctor to the ring to look at Takam’s cuts.

Just when it looked like Takam might go the distance Joshua unleashed a series telling punches in the tenth that had Takam rocking, referee Phil Edwards didn’t need a second invitation to step in and end the contest, much to the dismay of Takam and most of the capacity crowd. A chorus of boos rang out over what most perceived as a premature stoppage.

The Verdict?

This fight turned out to be a tougher than expected test for Joshua. It is a precursor to what he can expect post his Klitschko win. Every opponent will treat a fight against Joshua as THE fight of their lives. Joshua needs to be prepared for that and must attempt to beat the ambition out of future opponent’s as early as possible.

Also Joshua has set a high bar in terms of fan expectation. In 19 fights, he has 19 stoppages. Yet fans booed because although Joshua had battered Takam from pillar-to-post the crowd not quite get to see what they want due to the referee. However in true Joshua style he didn’t shy away from the matter at hand in his post-fight interview in the ring;

Joshua: I think people want to see Takam unconscious on the floor. Am I right?
Crowd: Roaaar
Joshua: Ok, now I understand

In an era of safety first Heavyweights, Joshua has come to be the man the fans rely on for unadulterated violence. So much so that even if they get brutality but not the specular KO, they feel robbed.

From a boxing perspective, Takam being a notably shorter opponent proved a tricky riddle for Joshua to solve. I’d have liked to seen Joshua make is size an issue by leaning on Takam and tiring the smaller man. Klitschko was a master at it. And even though it was frustrating to watch it proved effective.

Joshua likes to keep his range and rely on power however I think in the 9th round he really learned the benefits of using a jab. For most of Round 9 Joshua worked from behind a jab, Takam was decidedly troubled by it. So much so that in Round 10, Takam started to go for broke more and that lead to the openings that allowed Joshua to close the show. I’d like to see resort to his jab more when the power isn’t knocking his opponent’s over. He can make the task so much more easier for himself if he does.

What next?

Joshua will likely take some time out to nurse his injured nose. Apparently it isn’t broken just swollen. While there is talk of AJ fighting New Zealander Joseph Parker and Tyson Fury in 2018, the fight causing most buzz at the moment is a unification clash with American Deontay Wilder.

I think that is a fight Joshua will win. Even though Joshua has only had 19 fights compared to Wilders 38 fights, 38 wins, it can be argued that Joshua is the more battled hardened of the two. Joshua has passed ‘gut-checks’ against Dillian Whyte, Wladimir Klitschko and now Carlos Takam. He has shown he can respond to adversity in devastating fashion. There are no names on Wilder’s record that would give Joshua anything approaching a difficult fight.

The AJ factor

The last thing I want to touch on is Joshua’s popularity. Joshua is a megastar in the UK. Last night he broke the record for an indoor boxing event with 75,000 in attendance in Wales. He sold out 90,000 in Wembley with his fight against Klitschko. The British public love this guy. Some boxing purist may look at Joshua’s skillset and be bemused by all the fuss. These pundits are missing the point.

The reason for Joshua’s popularity is three-fold; his story, his personality and the fact he delivers exciting fights.

Joshua took up boxing relatively late, in his late-teens. He has been over-achieving relative to his experience ever since. In many ways he is a ‘novice World Champion’ and the humility with which he has embraced his circumstance makes him difficult not to like.

In an era of polished, well-schooled, arrogant boxers from the States, Joshua is a breath of fresh air. He is a guy that loves to fight and delivers devastating knock-outs. Yet there is no talk of being the GOAT or the baddest man on the planet. There is only talk of grinding and growth. There is no air of being ‘better than’ others, simply because he can box. Yet there is no false modesty either. Joshua is being himself, a man in his twenties that has found discipline and direction in boxing. The formula has earned him lucrative endorsement deals and a massive following.

Anthony Joshua crossover to the casual boxing fan in a big way. He is part of a crop of young fighters that are making the UK the new ‘mecca of boxing.’ I’m certain he will travel and fight across the globe as world champion but make no mistake; Anthony Joshua will still be the ‘boy-next-door’ that came good.