sign in sign up
<<
Home , Anthony Joshua

Joshua’s American debut in June just one piece in an undisputed gamble for all the stakes

By Norm Frauenheim-

Anthony Joshua’s American debut on June 1 was formally announced this week, 55 years after the Beatles landed at JFK in February 1964 in what was the beginning of the first popular British Invasion.

Beatlemania followed in an early step toward unprecedented global celebrity. I’m not sure any kind of mania is awaiting Joshua, at least not against in a heavyweight title defense at Madison Square Garden. But prepare for promoters and advertisers to hype that inevitable parallel more often than a Beatles’ lyric.

Make no mistake, Joshua-Miller is an interesting fight. But in terms of pay-per-view numbers, it’s about as interesting as the - bout, a compelling draw last December that attracted a PPV audience of about 350,000.

Joshua-Miller might do better, if the Wilder-Fury rematch in fact happens on May 18. As of Thursday, the rematch for Wilder’s belt was still being negotiated. It’s not clear how, if at all, the Joshua-Miller announcement affects ongoing talks. The sequel could serve as some solid advertising for Joshua-Miller, however.

I say could instead of would because there aren’t any guarantees about either bout. Wilder-Fury 2 is a pick-em fight. Controversy erupted when Wilder escaped with a draw because of two late knockdowns, one in the ninth and again in the 12th. Many in the Los Angeles Staples Center crowd and television audience thought Fury had done enough to win through the first eight rounds.

Let’s say that in mid-May the clever Fury figures out how to stay away from Wilder’s power and wins a decision many thought he should have had in December. So much for the American step in Joshua’s plan to go global. The only heavyweight known to casual fans in the American audience is Wilder. If there’s no chance at Wilder-Joshua, that crossover demographic won’t watch the DAZN live stream of Joshua-Miller on June 1.

Let’s say that Wilder’s power does land and this time it keeps Fury on the canvas. That’s a distinct possibility. Wilder is still unbeaten because of his singular power. At December’s weigh-in, he was surprisingly light at 214.75 pounds. At opening bell, he was even lighter at 209.4. For the six fights before Fury, Wilder’s weight bounced between 220 and 229. Add 10 to 15 pounds to his body and punching leverage. The result might add up to just enough power to finish Fury in the second go-round.

Then, it would be up to Joshua. He’s favored over Miller. The best guess is that Joshua’s uppercut lands and knocks out Miller, who is as fearless as he is talkative. The aggressive Miller likes to move forward, a tactic that will put him in range for a direct hit from Joshua’s best punch.

But Miller has also proven to be resilient. I watched him three years ago in a tough fight in Tucson against a Davenport, Iowa, heavyweight, Donovan Dennis. Dennis rocked Miller with power of his own in the fourth and fifth rounds. Miller was hurt. Yet he recovered, scoring a seventh-round stoppage. Miller showed he can take a heavyweight punch. Question is, can he take Joshua’s kind of power? If he can, Miller has a real chance — one I’m not sure Joshua foresees.

Joshua’s tone was almost apologetic in a video he posted on social media when the fight was announced Wednesday.

“The current state of the heavyweight division right now is full of boxing politics,’’ said Joshua, who is expected to collect a $24.3 million purse in his first business trip to the U.S. “But you know how it goes. I just roll along with the punches. You know I would have loved to fight at and brought you guys an undisputed championship of the world.’’

He was talking about Wilder. Everybody has been talking about Wilder-Joshua for the last couple of years. It’s hard to know who or what to believe about all the talk that has come and gone about the proposed fight. Remember when it was supposed to happen last April 13? Still, it’s the only heavyweight fight that matters for a worldwide audience.

If there is a deal for a Wilder-Fury rematch this spring, it’ll look as if there’s a plan in place for finally making the only heavyweight fight the world wants to see. Then again, Miller and/or Fury can do to that plan what say happens to most of them when they get hit.