Title dream edges closer for Imperious Leicester

Leicester responded to the challenge laid down by Tottenham in rampant fashion as they blew Swansea City away 4-0 at the King Power Stadium. 

Tottenham’s impressive away victory by the same margin at Stoke on Monday was enough to cast some doubt as to who was destined to lift the title.

Leicester, missing star striker Jamie Vardy through suspension, would have been forgiven some nerves as they chase their first top flight championship of the modern era. Fans need not have been concerned as it would have been difficult to have responded in a more defiant manner; Leicester ran riot picking Swansea off at will,  with Riyad Mahrez once again the star of the show ably assisted by Vardy replacement Leonardo Ulloa’s two goals.

Facing a pressured situation to show their credentials Leicester responded admirably and look all set to complete the fairytale, becoming Premier League Champions. 

With just three games remaining and an 8 point lead (having played once more than Spurs), only the most pessimistic Leicester fan should be nervous of slipping up in the final straight. However more talented teams than Leicester have indeed done just that, with Liverpool the most recent example dropping a 5 point lead with three games to go, a team boasting Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard no less. 

If there is any chance of Tottenham pulling off an incredible late comeback in the race, they must dispatch of West Brom in confident fashion and hope that Leicester drop points against Manchester United next weekend. This is the final game in which Leicester can conceivably drop the ball and Manchester United will be desperate for the win themselves in their quest for a Champions League spot. 

A point will not be enough for United who now have their fate in their own hands, their main rivals Manchester City and Arsenal are still to meet in the run in, meaning 4 wins for the Red Devils guarantees them fourth position.

If it were the case that Leicester lost this game, then a victory for Spurs at Chelsea would leave the gap at two points with two games to play. This would be a true test for Leicester but after overcoming every challenge thus far one can only predict them being equal to it. 

The title race is by no means over yet, regardless of Leicester’s outstanding performance. Sunday’s game at Old Trafford promises be the final major obstacle and a positive result should then wrap up the title for the foxes. 

All that Tottenham can do is try to win all of their remaining games and hope that suffices, easier said than done with a game away at Chelsea still to come, a ground Spurs haven’t won at in over twenty years. It’s over to Spurs to reignite the pressure with victory over West Brom on Monday night, in the words of Claudio Ranieri ‘ keep calm Mauriccio’. It’s over to you Tottenham ….. 

Judgement Day for Joshua

Tonight the eyes of the world will be focussed on the O2 with the IBF World Heavyweight title the prize in a battle between USA and Britain. American ‘Prince’ Charles Martin defends his newly won crown against Anthony Joshua, dubbed the ‘next big thing’, in a fight which will begin to tell us just how good can become. Both fighters will enter the arena boasting unbeaten records, begging the question ‘who’s 0 has to go’.

After winning gold at London 2012 followed by 15 straight knockout victories as a pro, Anthony Joshua (26) has long been the name on the lips of  heavyweight boxing pundits; his potential outstanding, physique extraordinary and personality charming. Nobody has ever questioned the fact that Joshua was destined to fight for a world title eventually, but to do it in just his 16th fight after previously having never met a world top 10 fighter is a surprise even to him. His marketability and growth in the public eye has led to much pressure and expectation. Of course it is of no fault of his own that he has been thrust into the spotlight so early in his career, it is nonetheless a risk to step up in class so significantly with so much riding on the result.

Martin himself is a relative new name to the scene having won 22 fights before meeting Glazkov for the belt vacated by Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury. The heavy hitting southpaw won the belt in unusual circumstances, Golovkin pulling out through injury after three rounds handing over the championship so to speak. As a result ‘Prince’ would see a victory tonight as his true coronation as heavyweight champion of the world.

The fight promises to be an interesting clash in styles. ‘Prince’ Martin fights in a southpaw stance,  moves well and has a heavy overhand left which he will look to throw behind Joshua’s jab. Weighing in for this fight at one pound heavier than his opponent the champion is less physically impressive than his challenger but instead prides himself on his boxing brain, heart and toughness sighting his tough upbringing as the catalyst to his success.

In stark contrast Joshua fights in an orthodox stance and has a pedigree of the highest caliber as reigning heavyweight Olympic gold medallist. The humble Londoner is sculpted like a bodybuilder and bases his style on technique and power. He has impressed pundits and fans alike with his fights to date but has not ever fought a fighter of the caliber of the champion. Joshua was rocked by a shot, if only momentarily by his last opponent Dillon Whyte, creating an air of uncertainty of his ability to take a shot from the best heavyweights in the world.

What makes this fight such an interesting spectacle in addition to the obvious high stakes, is the relative unknown current level of both fighters. Everybody has an opinion but the truth is that neither of these fighters has fought a marquee name or certainly not anybody of the quality of their opponent, and both are still developing and improving with each fight.  As has always been the case in Heavyweight boxing one punch can, and most probably will make all of the difference, especially with the known power of both individuals.

Getting to the position to throw a knockout punch will be crucial and technically Joshua would be seen to have the advantage in ‘boxing skill’ alone. Martin has a tendency to leave his hands relatively low and with the explosive power that Joshua possesses you could argue that a knockout in rounds 3-6 for Joshua may equate to an educated bet on the outcome. If Martin were to be caught early, Joshua has proven that he is a great finisher and may use his imposing power and athleticism to pounce on Martin. Joshua will look to dictate the centre of the ring and bring a tempo to the fight which he would hope would be too much for the champion leading to a knockout by the mid way point.

Prince Charles Martin is a great fighter in his own right and while many would have Joshua favourite based on his Olympic background and impressive skills, the champion is being criminally underrated. He is a ‘fighter’ who describes himself as just that. He does have a strong amateur background and has a frightening left cross that will cause Joshua all kinds of problems if he manages to land. Joshua also hasn’t ever fought a southpaw as a professional. This could lead to a period of uncertainty in which the challenger learns and picks where the shots come in, giving Martin a window of opportunity early on.

When analysing how this fight will pan out I think that there is a chance of an early knockout for both fighters. If Joshua struggles early to pick the southpaw and Martin lands we will most certainly learn about the Briton’s chin. If Joshua comes out flying as is usually the case he has the ability to put Martin away early. Where this fight will be interesting is between the 3rd and 9th rounds. With the explosive power of Joshua it is likely he will be able to maintain a high tempo for perhaps 7 rounds, he will hope to have the job done by then. The longer this fight goes the more likely it is that Joshua, carrying lots of upper body  muscle, is going to tire slightly and may leave himself open to getting caught by Martin. I cannot personally see the fight going the distance but if it did I would tip Joshua to win enough early rounds to hold on, but expect a close fight if that is the case. Whatever happens the fight will leave the victor with the world at their feet and big money bouts in the not too distant future with fellow champions Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder; for the defeated fighter this will not be the end but will certainly set them back a year at best.

Prediction: Joshua by KO in round 5