3 Greater Than 2? Anthony Joshua to Defend Against Takam As Pulev Pulls Out

Anthony Joshua versus Carlos Takam hath been made an official bit a' pugilism in a superficially post haste manner yester-day, this for October 28 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Challenging then, Heavyweight champion Joshua (19-0, 19KO) is a Takam whom agreed actually a bit-ago to play last-minute replacement for Kubrat Pulev, he of the injured-during-sparring shoulder. To be exact, this short notice tallies to a total dozen days to the eye of the public, only. Promoter Eddie Hearn assures this to be a suitable substitution, and one not cobbled-together as spur a' the moment as maybe ya'd thunk. More to follow. As one may assume.

The 36 year-old Takam, hailing from Cameroon by way of France, has a professional record of 35-1, with 27 knock-outs. He is the IBF’s third-ranked Heavyweight, one spot below Pulev and his career record a’ 25-1, 13 by-way-of knock-out. In accordance with IBF's own rules, this posits him as the replacement de facto for this Joshua mandatory defence. Takam hath priorly fought some top Heavyweights. Of his three recorded blemishes, one came against the albeit limited Joseph Parker and another 'gainst Alexander "Drago" Povetkin in the tenth round of their Moscow-hosted war. Sir is too a 2003 All-Africa Games bronze medalist. Too, too: he represented his native Cameroon in the super heavyweight division of the 2004 Olympics. Not an altogether shabby resume, this.

As an aside of only potential interest to some, I need to hurry this along so that I can then sew closed the busted seam of my sweatpants, as well as the pocket of a separate brand-new pair. Also, the top spot in the IBF’s Heavyweight rankings remains vacant. I simply find that odd. Also and as well, fans of Pulev... those Pulling for Pulev, if ya will and I just did -- take heart. Patient heart. Yer fella shall in time get the IBF title shot he is due. As long as he don’t lose a bout along the way twixt now and whenstever then may be. It could humsoever take several ticks a’ time because Joshua needs to make a mandatory defence of his WBA crown before then, his IBF necessities about to be satisfied.

Worth noting to the owners of the already purchased 70,000 tickets sold prior to Takam stepping in to take-over the role of challenger -- the remainder of the card is left intact, unlike the Deontay Wilder-Luis Ortiz slow-dismantling you may read about in Wilder-Ortiz Likely Off After Ortiz Flunks Junks Test.  For what that's worth. In full: the WBA female lightweight title will be decided twixt Anahi Esther Sanchez (17-2) and Katie Taylor (6-0), as shall the WBA super flyweight title be when Khalid Yafai (22-0) vs Sho Ishida (24-0) doth occur. Dillian Whyte (21-1) vs Robert Helenius (25-1) for something known as the WBC Silver Heavyweight title is somewhat intriguing. Lenroy Thomas (21-4) vs Dave Allen (12-3-1)  for the Commonwealth Heavyweight title is a tick less intriguing. Then we are fleshed-out via Frank Buglioni (20-2-1) vs Callum Johnson (16-0) with the British & Commonwealth Light Heavyweight titles up-for grabs. Then whom-so-ever this TBA person is, has a trio of fights with Lawrence Okolie (5-0), Joe Cordina (4-0), and Joshua Buatsi (2-0). He must have either extraordinary stamina or terrible management. That, gentlepersons, was a long way to go, to get to a rather low-caliber punch-line. My sincerest of apologies.

But not cobbled-together as these Walmart sweats seemingly are, nor done-so using a foe devoid of resume. Taking the fight on a dozen-days notice is a thing existent on paper, alone, and must be made clear I s'pose. As Eddie Hearn further elucidated that Takam, in a manner already mentioned, was always the officially named under-study for Pulev since August-- thusly has been training for the fight all-along. Meaning, he'll feasibly be ready to go while Joshua will need to adapt his training. As if every under-study prepares fully his lines. So, if we believe that he has been preparing all that time, after his last fight in June, we at the least have a Takam in fighting shape with a singular foe in-mind. Off-set this with AJ being forced to square-off whenst bell rings opposite a vastly different sweet science practitioner than he's been in training for during the majority of his camp.

Takam, his experiences already partially delved into, is physically quite different than the taller Pulev. He stands 'only' about 6'1 -- roughly a half-foot shorter than Joshua, which natch don't look good on the surface. But his style is one of relentless pressuring whilst Pulev's ain't necessarily-so, which may tire AJ. Spinning Takam's small size positively, it may make him hard to hit and put-away once the muscular Brit is fatigued a la he done with Klitschko the Younger. Lending credence to this line of logic, he's quite the durable sort, as well. 

Remember whenst Tony Tubbs dropped out of his scheduled challenge of WBA champ Tim Witherspoon, and James "Bonecrusher" Smith stepped in on short-notice via Don King? It was 1986's Bonecrusher-Witherspoon II and Bonecrsher crushed dem bones using an early all-out assault of a bum's rush. In a bit over two minutes into the opening stanza, Witherspoon tasted canvas thrice (going down for the first time in his career), and with the three knock-down rule in effect -- lost to the late replacement. Strange thing happen, gentlepersons. Although not oft 'nuff to ever step out-side the realm of strange. Plus, the size discrepancies herein the given example don't equal-up. I mainly just brung this all up in a perchance ill-fated attempt at looking knowledgeable. It's why all my party invitations apparently get lost in the mail. That and the threat of me showing-up in pants I paid $5.96 for. Equally -- no -- much more likely, is that Anthony Joshua gobbles up Takam early. Prior to any style differences rearing their potentially curious effects.

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"Too Wet to Burn" Kaplowitz Radio: October 18, 2017