By Milcah Tanimu
Anthony Joshua, the British heavyweight boxer, has drawn comparisons to the legendary Mike Tyson in terms of his punching ability, according to Malik Scott, the trainer of Deontay Wilder.
Joshua, who quickly rose to the top of the heavyweight division by knocking out his first 20 opponents, has faced scrutiny in recent years for not displaying the same ferocity that marked his early career. He achieved significant victories over fighters like Wladimir Klitschko, Carlos Takam, and Charles Martin, claiming five world titles.
However, since Joseph Parker in 2018, Joshua hasn’t scored as many knockouts, having lost three times, secured two more points wins, and recorded just two knockouts.
During a discussion on TalkSport, Malik Scott, a former heavyweight and Deontay Wilder’s trainer, reflected on Joshua’s size and power. This conversation took place shortly after it was confirmed that terms had been agreed for a fight between Joshua and Wilder.
Scott noted, “[People in America think that] he’s a big guy that can fight, he’s got too many muscles. It seems like Stateside people talk more about his build than his skillset. In my opinion, Joshua puts together punches more than any heavyweight in the last 10-15 years, I mean combinations.”
When asked about where Deontay Wilder ranks among the great heavyweight fighters, Scott placed him alongside just two other modern fighters. He said, “I think in any era Deontay Wilder’s presence would have been felt by [Muhammad] Ali, [George] Foreman, everybody. I believe he would be a force to be reckoned with in any era. I think the same with Tyson Fury, but I’m not too sure about too many of the other guys. Oleksandr Usyk also, he’s better than he gets credit for.”
It’s worth noting that despite the potential for high-profile fights like Joshua vs. Wilder, they have faced challenges in making such matches a reality.
