Friday's Final Word - #7
AJ is back, A new player at featherweight and Loughnane vs Moraes.
Evening All!
Some of you will have noticed there was no newsletter on Wednesday and I just wanted to address the schedule.
Going forward, it will be Monday & Friday.
The Review/Preview & The Final Word.
Statistically, these are the best performing so we will stick with these for now and introduce a third edition when the times right.
Written, audio/podcast or a mixture of both.
If you have any thoughts, let me know.
Right, let’s get into it!
AJ IS BACK!
Dominating the headlines this week is the return of Anthony Joshua and I have to be honest, I am really excited.
I have always been a big fan of AJ and I find it difficult to understand the disrespect he gets.
His meltdown in Saudi after the Usyk fight was the only moment that I think he deserved a bit of criticism. It was embarrassing but inside the ring, he has given British boxing fans some unbelievable nights.
I don’t agree with much Eddie Hearn says these days, but his argument that AJ has the best CV at heavyweight is valid.
He has consistently fought the best opposition he can throughout his career and he deserves respect for the two fights with Usyk, alone.
He may not be the most technical heavyweight in the world and there is a clear path to victory against him but one thing you can’t criticise him for is his willingness to put it on the line.
Even this weekend, he could have picked a much easier fight to come back to.
Franklin is no world beater and the Whyte result flatters him, but there are easier fights out there at heavyweight so I think it is time AJ got a bit more credit.
I am really keen to watch the impact of AJ’s new trainer, Derrick James.
I like everything about him.
The way he speaks, the way he trains and his no nonsense approach the all the extra stuff that boxing brings.
From what I understand, James has removed the AJ circus from the gym.
We haven’t seen much ‘Instagram’ content from Joshua in this fight and that’s a good thing.
When it’s time to work, Joshua has been working.
With Derrick James.
Not with his favourite pad man or his mate or another part of his entourage.
Just him & his trainer.
The way it should be.
I like this setup and I think Derrick James holds the keys to releasing this new version of Anthony Joshua.
The Fight
It’s easy to look at the record of Joshua and say he is on a losing streak but it’s important to keep context.
As anyone reading this will know, I consider Usyk to be the best fighter on the planet and Joshua has gone the distance with him twice.
There is no shame in those defeats and I believe they will actually make him a better fighter.
This is a clear step down and that will suit AJ and give him an opportunity to get back to that front foot, pressure fighter we all fell in love with in his early career.
Obviously, there is a certain level were AJ falls short but I think in this type of fight, he will always be the dominant force.
It’s easy to look into that Dillian Whyte fight and draw a conclusion that Franklin will pose problems but I think he only becomes an issue for Joshua later in the fight.
Throughout his career, Joshua has always been better in rounds 1-6.
He is more explosive & more clinical when he gets his opponent hurt.
I think he knows that, along with new trainer Derrick James and that’s why I expect him to start this fight rapidly.
He came in weighing heavy (the heaviest of his career) but he looked lean and that all points towards a fast explosive start and a big knockout.
Where I think this fight gets tricky is if we creep towards rounds 7-8.
If Joshua slows down, his attacks become laboured and the crowd grow anxious, Franklin will be in the position he wants.
He is a fighter that likes to slow the pace of a fight and in short terms, make it boring.
If he can frustrate Joshua and survive the first six, he could easily begin clocking up the rounds in the second half and that makes it really interesting.
That said, I think Joshua means business this weekend.
It’s not make or break but it’s getting close!
Time for a ‘NEW DAWN’ as Eddie Hearn has said all week.
Official Pick - Anthony Joshua between rounds 1-6.
The undercard.
Let’s not beat around it.
The undercard is awful.
I was excited to watch Felix Cash fight for the European title and set up a potential fight with ‘Ammo’ Williams but that fell off this week.
Felix Cash is quickly becoming one of the most frustrating fighters in British boxing.
As for the rest of it…boring.
I have small interest in watching Williams vs River Wilson-Bent but ‘small interest’ might even be pushing it.
The rest of it is poor.
No realistic chance of a Matchroom fighter getting beat or even pushed.
We need better and I can’t write a newsletter and pretend I am interested in undercards like this.
However…
I am interested in the fight between Isaac Dogboe and Robeisy Ramirez in the USA.
This is for the interim featherweight world title and another opportunity for Ramirez to solidify himself as a top featherweight name.
He was an exceptional amateur and somehow lost his first fight as a professional but since then it’s been nothing but progression.
He is the type of fighter I love watching and so is Isaac Dogboe so this makes a great fight.
I think Ramirez is getting Dogboe at the right time, however.
The old saying is ‘Boxing is all about timing’ and I think that will play out here.
One fighter climbing the hill and the other coming down the hill.
Ramirez is growing into a spiteful fighter and although I think Dogboe will give a good account, I just expect Ramriez to be too quick and accurate.
Official Pick - Robeisy Ramirez to win by KO/TKO.
Loughnane Is Back
No UFC this weekend but we do have some decent action in the PFL as Brendan Loughnane returns against former UFC star Marlon Moraes.
Loughnane, fresh off winning a world title and a million dollars, is a fighter who has waited in the wings for a lot of his career but is finally getting some attention and respect.
He is a heavy favourite here but the opportunity to fight someone with a history like Moraes doesn’t come around often and Loughnane knows that.
The facts are Moraes has lost his last five, all by stoppage and he is a shadow of the fighter he used to be.
The PFL is a lower level than the UFC but I believe Loughnane has too much momentum to slip up here.
Not only do I think he will win, but I think it will be inside two rounds.
Picks
Anthony Joshua in rounds 1-6
Robeisy Ramirez by KO/TKO
Loughnane vs Moraes under 1.5 rounds
Thanks again for taking the time to read the newsletter, the numbers are flying and I have so much to come that will add to this community!
See you next week…
Podcast
Great insight in Joshua Jord, really enjoyed it