Anthony Joshua vs Carlos Takam: Fight Preview
Anthony Joshua returns to the ring for the first time since his memorable victory over Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley, as he faces Carlos Takam this Saturday. Takam wasn’t Joshua’s original opponent – that was supposed to be Bulgarian fighter Kubrat Pulev, who pulled out due to a shoulder injury with less than two weeks to go. Takam had been on standby, so he should be in good shape when he steps into the ring on Saturday night.
The fight takes place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, marking Joshua’s first bout outside of England, a trend that is likely to continue in the future. As is typical for UK-based fights, it is scheduled for around 11 pm, though the exact time may vary depending on the length of the undercard bouts.
While Joshua is the heavy favorite, the last-minute change in opponent is not ideal. He had spent weeks preparing for Pulev, only to have his plans altered at the last minute. Takam presents a different challenge; he’s a taller fighter and possesses the power to trouble any opponent. Despite the disruption, the change could be a valuable learning experience for Joshua as he navigates the world of professional boxing.
Joshua comes into the fight with a perfect record: 19 wins from 19 fights, all by knockout. Takam is more experienced, with 39 fights under his belt, 35 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses. He has the ability to win fights and certainly packs a punch, but he has yet to face anyone of Joshua’s caliber, and that may be his undoing on Saturday night.
Joshua Defending His Titles
This fight sees Joshua defend his IBF and WBA titles for the first time since his victory over Klitschko at Wembley. That fight was a tough one, with Joshua facing serious adversity. At one point, Klitschko was favored to win, but Joshua showed his heart and resilience, rallying to knock down the Ukrainian in the 11th round.
While Joshua may not need to dig as deep as he did against Klitschko, it’s reassuring to know that he has that toughness in his arsenal. As his career progresses, he will face tougher opponents than Takam, and the Klitschko fight will have prepared him well for those challenges.
Takam’s Knockout Power
If there’s a shock to be had on Saturday, it will likely come from Takam landing a big punch. He has the power to trouble Joshua, and if he connects, he could cause problems. However, Takam does not appear to be the type of fighter who grinds down his opponents, so he will rely on his power punches to make an impact. While the threat remains, we believe the likelihood of a Takam upset is low.
Our Predictions
This fight doesn’t carry the same excitement as Joshua’s bout with Klitschko, but it’s still worth watching. The late opponent change adds an intriguing subplot, and Joshua must be careful not to enter the ring overconfident. Takam is dangerous, with nothing to lose, but does he have the tools to trouble Joshua?
In our view, the answer is no. Joshua has already faced and beaten superior boxers, and while his training camp was disrupted, he should still secure a comfortable win. We expect Joshua to take a measured approach, wary of making mistakes, but once he settles in, he should dominate. We’re predicting a knockout victory for Joshua in the fourth round.
This should be another entertaining Joshua fight, but he has too much class for his opponent. Expect his record to improve to 20 wins, with 20 knockouts, by the end of Saturday night.
How to Watch the Fight
This weekend’s fight will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Box Office. You can order the fight for £19.99 through your TV remote if you are a Sky subscriber. Alternatively, contact your operator to order the fight if you are watching on a different platform.
Scheduled repeats of the fight will be shown on Sunday, 29th October, for anyone who purchases the event.
Joshua vs Takam Betting Odds
Anthony Joshua is a massive favorite with betting sites, with many expecting the fight to end early. The best available odds at the time of writing are listed below:
- Joshua to win: 1/25
- Takam to win: 45/2
- Draw: 50/1
If you think Joshua will win by KO, TKO, or Disqualification, he’s priced at 1/12, with Takam available at 20/1 to win by the same methods.
Round Betting
With such a one-sided matchup, round betting provides better odds for those looking to get involved:
- Joshua to win in Round 1: 7/1
- Joshua to win in Round 2: 5/1
- Joshua to win in Round 3: 5/1
- Joshua to win in Round 4: 13/2
- Joshua to win in Round 5: 8/1
- Joshua to win in Round 6: 10/1
- Joshua to win in Round 7: 14/1
- Joshua to win in Round 8: 25/1
- Joshua to win in Round 9: 40/1
- Joshua to win in Round 10: 50/1
- Joshua to win in Round 11: 80/1
- Joshua to win in Round 12: 100/1
- Joshua to win on Points: 12/1
Whether you’re betting on an outright winner or placing round bets, there are plenty of ways to get involved in Saturday night’s big fight.
Joshua vs Takam Betting Offers
As the fight approaches, bookmakers are offering special promotions for punters. Here are the latest offers:
- Betway is offering money back if the fight ends inside the first two rounds. To qualify, place a £5 round bet and get up to £10 back as a free bet if your selection loses.
- William Hill is offering top odds on round betting compared to select competitors, so check them out if you’re looking for the best price.