That was a great fight.
However, I think Wlad really messed up by not pulling the trigger in rounds 6/7 - he had Joshua on silly street, he was gassed and there to be KO'd but Wlad reeverted to his juab n grab style, no doubt thinking (like i did) that the longer it went on the more Aj would struggle.
But big respect to both guys - both had questions about their chins and they both took some hellacious shots and never onces did either look for a way out.
Joshua ticked some boxes tonight, but not ALL the boxes - the most worrying thing for him is how his engine seems to seize up after trying for a finish; it happened against Whyte and it happened again worse against Wlad. There is still too much of the robotic Frank Bruno about him. Maybe a lot of his power is loading up on punches so much that it drains hime of energy?
But I don't want to be too hard on him - I reckon he learned more in the first 2 rounds against Wlad than all his previous rounds put together, and I really didn't think he would get up from that cracking right hand from Wlad in the 6th. Props.
I hope Wlad retires now - he went out on his shield like a true champ, and apart from really trying to finish it in the 6th/7th he put pretty much everything into getting his titles back, but that uppercut? How did he stay up? Man, he showed real heart.
And pure class from both before and after the fight.
What next?
Whilst I'd put Joshua as favourite, if Wilder was to tag him with a right, would Ajs engine go again, and would Wilder be more capable of going for the kill than Wlad? That vulnerability at least gives Wilder a chance IMO.
Not sure Fury's gameplan against Wlad would work on AJ to be honest, but it would be another to see.
I hope Brook vs Spence can come close to this one!!
