Home Boxing News Anthony Joshua is the perfect heavyweight, according to Chris Algieri

Anthony Joshua is the perfect heavyweight, according to Chris Algieri

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Anthony Joshua 24-1 (22) is the perfect heavyweight according to junior welterweight and boxing analyst Chris Algieri.

The WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion is set to defend his titles against 34-year-old southpaw Oleksandr Usyk 18-0 (13) at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium in Tottenham, England this Saturday night.

The size, athleticism and power of the 31-year-old Brit are all key factors in his success, say Algieri.

“If I was going to create a heavyweight champion of the world on a video game, it would be Anthony Joshua,” Algieri said to Pro Boxing Fans.

“From his athleticism, his size, his speed, his punching power. He’s shown durability and heart in the past and he’s got dog in him.”

Former undisputed cruiserweight champion Usyk has won two fights on the trot since moving up in weight two years ago. His first win in the open weight class came against late replacement Chazz Witherspoon, who he stopped in seven frames in Chicago in October 2019.

His second victory came against heavyweight gatekeeper Dereck Chisora on points in London one year later. Two of the judges had the fight 115-112 while the third saw it wider at 117-112, all for Usyk.

For those two fights Usyk averaged a weight of 216-pounds. Joshua typically weighs around 245-pounds for his fight.

The size difference is substantial with a number of Usyk boosters noting that the great Muhammad Ali typically weighed in at around the same weight as the slick-boxing Ukrainian.

But Algieri notes that Ali fought in an era when that was considered a big man. His only knock on Joshua is that he was knocked out in seven rounds by Andy Ruiz Jr 34-2 (22) at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden in June 2019.

Joshua would go on to win the rematch on points in decisive fashion in Saudi Arabia six months later.

“He’s got that blemish against Andy and he got knocked out. Usyk is still undefeated, and he’s got that awkward style,” Algieri continued.

“I think the size is going to be a big issue. I read somewhere someone says, ‘Oh, Usyk is the same size as Muhammad Ali.’ Okay, Anthony Joshua is bigger and more athletic than anyone Muhammad Ali ever fought.

“Heavyweights are different now. Anthony Joshua is a super heavyweight and that’s the new generation of heavyweight. The 250-pound, six-foot-six plus, six-foot-five plus, athletic heavyweight with power.

“A totally different thing from the guys from the 70s or the giant Primo Carnera back in the day.

“Those guys weren’t athletic. This guy is different. So trying to make that comparison, I don’t think it holds any water.”

As for a prediction on the fight, Algieri holds a firm view.

“So for me, I think it’s a difficult fight for either fighter, but I go with Anthony Joshua,” he said.