Sports
Ronaldo’ll Beat Messi Mercilessly, says Boxing Champ Anthony Joshua
Who would win out of the football superstars? Media crew for a Youtube channel, recently posed this question to boxing heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua.
Joshua who appeared not to anticipate such a crackly question in the interview, spontaneously busted into laughter as he found the question quite entertaining.
Responding, the British born Nigerian believes Cristiano Ronaldo’s power would overcome Lionel Messi’s ruggedness.
Ronaldo and Messi have been rivals at the pinnacle of the footballing world for the best part of a decade – sharing the last nine Ballon d’Or awards between them.
But while Barcelona’s Messi leads the way in that department, winning five to Ronaldo’s four, Joshua believes the Portuguese would have the edge in the boxing ring.
Joshua believes Cristiano Ronaldo’s power would overcome Lionel Messi’s ruggedness
Joshua said on Youtube: ‘Messi’s got that ruggedness but Ronaldo looks like he’s got the Bruce Lee – bang!
‘You know what I mean, just stand there and lick you with one hook and you’re finished. Messi seems a bit more like his name… messy and rugged.’
World heavyweight champion Joshua also spoke of his appreciation for Ronaldo’s professionalism, revealing that he was inspired by the Real Madrid man’s work ethic and how he has marketed himself.
‘I’ve been pro now for three years, and I think early on I was trying to do everything because with boxing I come into the game as a professional,’ Joshua added.
Joshua further explained how he draws inspiration from Ronaldo’s physical condition
‘Remember I haven’t had much background, so I had to present myself to the world – so for the first three years I was managing, managing, marketing and marketing.
‘But now I’m at a stage where I’ve just said I’ve done that, now I want to focus on being the best boxer then I get the inspiration from Ronaldo.
‘It’s just little things. He would train by himself afterwards to work on what he wanted to work on.
Joshua revealed he was inspired by how Ronaldo keeps himself in peak physical condition
‘I was speaking to [Ronaldo’s former Manchester United team-mate Rio] Ferdinand who said he was the only one in the team back then who had masseuses, nutritionists, psychologists, so he had that desire.’
But w hat of if Ronaldo and Manchester City’s Yaya Toure face each other in the ring? This question also got Joshua laughing loud but could not give a straight answer but he admitted that the footballer he’d most like to go up against in the ring would be Yaya Toure.
Why Yaya Toure? When pressed for an answer, Joshua explained he would choose to take on the Ivorian powerhouse because ‘he’s a bit of a beast’.
Joshua will face Bulgarian fighter Kubrat Pulev on October 28 in Cardiff with his unified IBF, WBA and IBO heavyweight titles on the line.
While Messi retains the edge in terms of Ballon d’Or triumphs, Ronaldo claimed the 2016 award and looks certain to repeat in 2017 after Madrid won the Champions League and La Liga last season.
Real Madrid produced a spectacular comeback against Bayern Munich to reach the Champions League final with Joselu striking twice late on, earning them a 2-1 win on Wednesday to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
Alphonso Davies smashed the visiting German giants ahead in the second half but record 14-time winners Madrid produced a sensational comeback with Joselu netting in the 88th and 91st minutes.
Bayern Munich’s Canadian midfielder #19 Alphonso Davies scores his team’s first goal in spite of Real Madrid’s Ukrainian goalkeeper #13 Andriy Lunin during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Spanish champions Real Madrid face another German side, Borussia Dortmund, in the Wembley final on June 1, after they stunned the team they call their “black beast”.
Squad player Joselu, on as a late substitute, wrote his name in Madrid’s history books with his last-gasp brace.
Bayern Munich’s English forward #09 Harry Kane reacts to their defeat after the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
“There have been a lot of times we have looked dead and buried, but we have that mentality of never say die,” said Real midfielder Jude Bellingham.
“Joselu deserves it all, he has been an amazing squad member this season.”
Madrid had enjoyed the better of the match but it seemed Davies’ superb strike had set up a repeat of the 2013 all-German final in London.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel made three changes from the first leg, benching veteran Thomas Mueller and Leon Goretzka.
Dani Carvajal started for Madrid after missing the first leg suspended and was heavily involved as the hosts dominated the opening stages.
Real Madrid players celebrate their second goal scored by Real Madrid’s Spanish forward #14 Joselu during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
Rodrygo Goes was inches away from converting Carvajal’s low cross and the Spain defender then cleverly set up Vinicius Junior with a pass nutmegging a defender, and Manuel Neuer tipped the Brazilian’s shot against the post.
The rebound fell to Rodrygo but his effort was weak and with a desperate arm Neuer was able to claw it out to complete a fine double save.
Bayern’s Serge Gnabry limped off injured with Davies replacing him before Harry Kane’s first flash of danger.
Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was alert to push the England captain’s vicious long-range volley around the post.
Neuer palmed away a Vinicius free-kick as the teams ended a high-intensity, relentlessly frantic first half level.
The second period was just as fraught, with Davies’ cross deflecting onto the roof of Lunin’s goal.
Vinicius was unplayable down Madrid’s left and Rodrygo prodded his low cross agonisingly wide of the far post.
The 38-year-old Neuer made superb saves to deny both Brazilian forwards again before the hour mark as Madrid controlled the game and ratcheted up the pressure.
However just as in Munich, when Los Blancos were at their strongest, Bayern pounced.
Kane fed Davies and the Canada international cut inside from the left and smashed a shot beyond Lunin into the far top corner after 68 minutes.
Madrid thought they had levelled moments later through Nacho but after a VAR review the strike was ruled out as the defender had grabbed Joshua Kimmich’s face before shooting.
Tuchel took off Kane in the final stages to try and hold on to victory but it slipped through his fingers as Madrid produced more indelible European memories.
Neuer, who had been sublime to this point, fumbled what appeared a simple Vinicius strike and Joselu gratefully bundled home from close range.
With Bayern reeling Madrid struck again, decisively. It was Joselu once more, the striker on loan from second division side Espanyol, turning home after Antonio Rudiger cut the ball back to him.
The goal was ruled offside but officials overturned the decision after review, and after nearly 15 minutes of stoppage time, Madrid earned the chance to go for their 15th Champions League trophy.
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