Q2 Arena London: Joshua vs Whyte, Bellow, Eubank, Mitchell, Malignaggi discussion

[billeau2]

I was just thinking about that too!

Well then..... "in this corner weighing in at 5,000 pounds, with a form dependent on who was for breakfast..."

[jup11223]

I voted for whyte by ko but really don't know who is going to win.hard to say

[BWC]

Hoping for a good fight with a Whyte win but expecting a 1-2 round smashfest for AJ with Hearn running around calling him the HW GOAT for weeks afterwards..

[Hougigo]

Watched some Whyte.... dude should get smashed

[Chrismart]

Sky Sports Panel Prediction

Carl Froch
I think Anthony Joshua will come out with a little bit more respect for his opponent and a little bit more caution. It's going to be interesting how he starts, given the size of Dillian Whyte and everything that has been said between the two. Don't get me wrong, I am still expecting Joshua to get him out of there but this could show a different side of him.
I don't think we are going to see him walk straight through Whyte in the first round and I suspect we are going to see a little bit of what he is going to need to get to world level. This should be the first guy he's taken properly serious, but don't forget he is a fighting machine and if he gets that opening, it will be all over. I predict Joshua will do the job by the third, maybe even the second round.

James DeGale
Anthony Joshua has looked unbelievable in his fights to date. The guy is just a beast and you have to side with him. Don't be surprised if Dillian Whyte is in the fight though and this being heavyweight boxing, anyone getting hit on the chin is going to go. These two can punch so I'm looking forward to it.
I'm going to go with Joshua to knock Whyte out in the middle rounds.

David Haye
I rate Dillian Whyte very highly. I also rate Anthony Joshua. They are very good young, hungry prospects.
Dillian Whyte was able to get a victory early on in Joshua's career. I don't believe it's going to work out like that again for him. Not because he's not that good, I believe they are both very good, I just believe that current form is coming through Anthony Joshua.
If it does go, it's probably early. I think Joshua will win the fight in the first three rounds.

Luke Campbell
I agree with what Joshua says in that it will go no more than four rounds. I believe there'll be a knockout from Joshua. It's not just the power, although he is unbelievably strong. What shocks people is his speed. His speed is so unexpected and those who get in with him are never ready for it - especially when he's throwing a flurry of punches at them.
I'm picking an Anthony Joshua knockout inside four rounds.

Johnny Nelson
It really depends on who gets hit and hurt in the first round, because someone will be hurt in the opening round and that will determine what happens next. The chances are that Dillian Whyte will be hurt in the first round, therefore he changes his tactics and if he wants to try to box Anthony long, then that will be the worst thing he can do.
If Whyte can put it on Joshua in the first round then he's a good finisher. I cannot see it going past two rounds. Whoever gets hurt in the first round, loses. I like them both, but I'll go with what I know and I would say that Anthony Joshua wins.

Anthony Crolla
I think Whyte is a very good heavyweight prospect. He's very serious about his training out there. He lives the life and I like the way he goes about his business. Being honest though, it's just hard to look past an Anthony Joshua win because of the way he's been performing. It's certainly his stiffest test so far because Whyte is very cute - especially on the inside.
He'll ask Joshua a few questions but I think Joshua stops him after six rounds.

Jim Watt
I'm pretty sure Joshua will stay emotionless. What makes this fight is that Whyte beat him as an amateur, because there's no real comparison between their professional performances. Whyte has done fine and everything that's asked of him. He can punch and you can't rule him out, but I believe Joshua is going to be a world champion and be massive.
I don't see any heavyweight out there who could take the power that Joshua has got. We need to see him in a fight and Whyte is a live opponent but I see Joshua stopping him inside three rounds.

Kevin Mitchell
I am in the gym with Anthony a lot and I honestly believe he's going to be one of the biggest fighters of all time. I see what he's capable of. We've had some great fighters over the years like Lennox Lewis, but AJ is a true athlete and runs the 100m in about 11 seconds. I think he'll tear up anyone in his path.
I'm going for a Joshua stoppage in rounds one or two.

Lee Selby
There is so much more to come from AJ. He's only been boxing for a short while, while there's plenty out there like me, who have been boxing since they were a kid. If you look at those early amateur fights and the one with Whyte, he is nothing like that now. He has improved so much and if he keeps improving, he will be one of the best around.
On paper it is Anthony's toughest test so far but I watched Whyte's last fight live and I could see then there is already a class between them and once AJ starts landing those punches, it will be too much. I do think he will come and have a go but if he does, that will leave him open and in trouble, so I am going to go with Joshua inside two rounds again! I doubt AJ is going to get wound-up by what he's been saying and if he does, I wouldn't like to be Dillian Whyte.

Glenn McCrory
Anthony Joshua has to avoid getting suckered in. Dillian is handling himself well and going for glory. It's a good fight and that's why the place is sold out. We know Dillian has beaten AJ and we know he gets under his skin, so it's one of those fights where anything can happen. Joshua has to show us that he is world class.
I think Dillian will go out there and hit him on the chin. I don't know what will happen then because nobody's gone out there to face AJ with the same ferocity Dillian will. I think Joshua will win by stoppage after coming through early scares.

Dave Coldwell
This is going to be exciting. Really exciting. Dillian isn't going to back down, he'll really come for it and if Joshua is too arrogant and thinks he's going to walk it, he could get caught. But if he is cold and clinical, he wins.
I am going straight in with Joshua between the third and fifth rounds just because his sheer accuracy will beat Dillian - and his defence doesn't look the best to me. If Dillian does land on him, I really want to see what happens - and I think we all do. I hope Joshua wins but I also hope that he gets clocked with an almighty shot, so we can see how he reacts.

Tony Bellew
Joshua will try to stay calm and composed and he's not going to want to make a mistake and let in Dillian Whyte. As we all know, I don't care who you are, if you are a heavyweight, you can capitalise on mistakes. AJ knows this is a dangerous fight but he wants to punish Whyte. He has learned to control his emotions because if he gets caught up in it all to start with, that makes it a real 50-50 shoot-out.
Joshua should make it a 90-10 and although it sounds a bit mad, I am going for Joshua with a fifth round knockout. This is also Whyte's first big fight so his energy will start to burn in the third and fourth and then in the fifth - and he can win a shoot-out at any stage - I can see Joshua landing those fast combinations, and that's it.

Paul Smith
I'm going to keep it interesting and say Joshua goes to points! He wins and I'll probably be wrong but I just think there are so many things we want to see from Joshua, and Dillian Whyte could be the man to put him to the test.
Joshua hasn't gone the distance yet, he hasn't even gone into the latter rounds. He hasn't been caught on the chin yet. Those are the basic things we need to see from a heavyweight we expect to see go all the way. I am not saying he is going to win but I am expecting Whyte to post plenty of questions.

Callum Smith
They definitely don't like each other. That always adds to the needle. Two big heavyweights unbeaten - it's a good fight. Without disrespect, it's the first time Joshua will face someone who really believes he will win. It's a good fight and Whyte is talented but you'd be silly to bet against Joshua. There's a nasty side to him and he's boxed at the highest level in the amateurs.
I expect it to be quite cagey early on. Joshua hits a bit too hard though and although it might take a few rounds, I don't think anyone can stand up to his power so it'll be Joshua stoppage in the middle rounds.

[Chrismart]

Spike O'Sullivan
It's one I'm really looking forward to. They are two big strong guys, there is no love lost, and bombs will be flying. It's going to be a good one.
I think Dillian Whyte could land an early knockout possibly, but Anthony Joshua has got the attributes to win on points or by knockout. If it goes to points, then Joshua will win. Either one can get the knockout, but I would put my money on Whyte because you'll get better odds. If he lands that's it... these two are powerful blokes.

Jamie Moore
Dillian Whyte has caught the British public's imagination and although I don't think he's good enough to beat Anthony Joshua, I do believe he can supply his toughest fight so far. The first couple of rounds could be tricky and Joshua must be a little bit careful to navigate through, but I would not back anyone against Joshua at the minute, he's that good.
Whyte will probably put up a bit of stubborn resistance and will do well in patches, but Joshua should get him out of there in three or four rounds - and look good doing it.

Darren Barker
I think this is another one or two rounder and that is no disrespect to Dillian Whyte. He's nowhere near in the same league as Anthony Joshua, who I expect to go on and dominate the heavyweight division for years. He is the new breed - the way he looks, the way he trains. He is the total package.
Dillian is a big heavyweight and he's a big puncher but I don't think he punches hard enough or quickly enough and there have been a few rumours about his chin. I believe Anthony Joshua will exploit all that on the night and it could be over really, really quickly. He might well be wound-up by what's gone on but I don't think that's going to do Dillian Whyte any favours.

[jaded]

Whyte is a pretty athletic guy...20-1 two-time British heavyweight kickboxing champion & European K1 champion with a short but successful pro MMA career all by 20 years of age. He then tries boxing and defeats Joshua knocking him down in his very 1st amateur fight...goes on to KO his next 5 opponents and then turns pro. He's held his own in sparring sessions with David Haye as well as past UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson. He's still learning but I see much more natural ability in him than Joshua who has not been the slightest bit tested and I think kind of a one dimensional fighter to be honest. I'm going with Dillian Whyte and think at 26 years old he is going to improve and give all the top heavies a good fight.

[alexguiness]

Hoping for a good fight with a Whyte win but expecting a 1-2 round smashfest for AJ with Hearn running around calling him the HW GOAT for weeks afterwards..

Yep, Hearn has to keep his hype train rolling...

I am going to bet on a round 6 KO, I think Whyte might test the chin of AJ once or twice before he takes a nap.

[daggum]

joshua has a seth mitchell chin. whyte ko round 1 easy book it bet the house, etccc...

[jaded]

Yep, Hearn has to keep his hype train rolling...

I am going to bet on a round 6 KO, I think Whyte might test the chin of AJ once or twice before he takes a nap.

If it goes to the 6th round I think Joshua would drop all on his own.