Anthony Joshua's biggest problems and the way forward

[BangEM]

Anthony Joshua is one of the most dedicated professionals in the game. This notion that he is still a work in progress is complete and utter nonsense.

The hours he has put in, this past decade 'I know for a fact, far surpasses anything Tyson Fury has done'.

****EM, you have to accept. That Anthony Joshua may not be this monster super heavyweight, that you have been riding with all this time.

Anthony Joshua is a good gifted athlete, who has dedicated to the sport of boxing and mastered he fundamentals.

Innately, I don't think he is a naturally gifted fighter. I don't think he as that innate ability of David Haye or Tyson Fury.

For me Joshua needs to go back to being himself. He is clearly obsessing over being super light, or training in a way that does not cater to his strengths.

His strengths were always, combination punching, punching power and just basic fundamentals. He is not genius inside the ring, he does not seem to have that foresight 'Where a fighter can see or anticipate three moves ahead'. Great masterful boxers operate 2-3 moves ahead of the action, they are continually anticipating the action 'Not all to dissimilar to a great snooker player'.

None of this is Anthony Joshua, but this is what he has been trying to be.

I commend Joshua for fighting through his trauma's, he has clearly still not slayed the dragon of Ruiz I.

I don't think this is a crisis situation, it is just competitive sport. Anthony Joshua is still a major player in the game.

You just said a lot without saying anything.

Why do you always bring up Haye like he was special when he never beat anyone? Haye got sparked by 45-yr old Carl Thompson and was never impressive in all his championship fights in the HW. Ran against Valuev. Ran against Wlad. Get Haye out of here, man - he was a scammer.

I'd give you Fury's innate ability to employ rough tactics and fight rather than box when he needs to. He's a traveller and it's a cultural thing for him. But apart from foot work and head movement - Fury isn't as polished as AJ when it comes to throwing punches.

AJ's biggest problems are mental and coaching - not ability. He's a thing of beauty whenever he let his hands go. However, that's impossible to do when you're always overthinking, second guessing and always trying new things against elite opponents. He needs to pick the style that works for him the best, get a coach that knows more about professional boxing - not amateurs. And check back in for a 3-fight run. If he can't do that - he needs to retire.

He has made enough money - he doesn't need to keep disgracing himself if he can't get his mentality right. The tools are there - he just needs better coaching and a better mentality. The idiocy about learning on the job has to stop - it's 8 yrs already - time to stick to what you do best.

[KingGilgamesh]

The fight was even ? Such tunnel vision ..can you not accept things the way they are? Joshua's not bad he's an excellent fighter.Usyk is simply up leagues better..to tame such a dangerous fighter the way he did he has earned significant props

Usyks chin for being such a remarkably smaller man..the way he took Joshua's best shots and instantly returned more to keep the monster at bay...

It's been a long time since I witnessed something so remarkable in boxing and I am so grateful

What a definitive win for usyk

What fucjing fight were u watching? Joshua's punches felt like they're being thrown underwater. There was absolutely zero snap to them. Any decent cruiser could have taken those. Joshua looked ****ing lethargic.

[nacho daddy]

joshua is to dumb, robotic and has a bad chin to be hurt by Usyk

[TMLT87]

I dont think its as much about what Joshua did wrong as it is Usyk just being a probable ATG who is on a different level of ability. I give AJ credit regardless because he has fought a wider range of top level HWs than anybody else in this era. Its easy to **** on him for these losses but so far Fury and Wilder are in a bubble fighting each other over and over for 3 ****ing years now and we just have to assume they are better than the guys they dont fight.

[BangEM]

A very long post to say:

AJ is an extremely orthodox fighter. He has a basic arsenal with poor foot movement. He cannot punch on the move and he doesnt fight particularly well going forward or backward...his strength is standing still and relying on being bigger and taller with longer reach...basically the guy is ordinary in a weight class that allows him to compete with smaller men.

He also doesnt have the mindset of a boxer. No killer instinct and seems to do it more for the fun of it rather than drive to compete and win

/thread

This is a clown post and everything you said was based on yesterday's fight and not a body of work. So I can't take you seriously.

[#1PaperChamp]

Anthony Joshua is one of the most dedicated professionals in the game. This notion that he is still a work in progress is complete and utter nonsense.

The hours he has put in, this past decade 'I know for a fact, far surpasses anything Tyson Fury has done'.

****EM, you have to accept. That Anthony Joshua may not be this monster super heavyweight, that you have been riding with all this time.

Anthony Joshua is a good gifted athlete, who has dedicated to the sport of boxing and mastered he fundamentals.

Innately, I don't think he is a naturally gifted fighter. I don't think he as that innate ability of David Haye or Tyson Fury.

For me Joshua needs to go back to being himself. He is clearly obsessing over being super light, or training in a way that does not cater to his strengths.

His strengths were always, combination punching, punching power and just basic fundamentals. He is not genius inside the ring, he does not seem to have that foresight 'Where a fighter can see or anticipate three moves ahead'. Great masterful boxers operate 2-3 moves ahead of the action, they are continually anticipating the action 'Not all to dissimilar to a great snooker player'.

None of this is Anthony Joshua, but this is what he has been trying to be.

I commend Joshua for fighting through his trauma's, he has clearly still not slayed the dragon of Ruiz I.

I don't think this is a crisis situation, it is just competitive sport. Anthony Joshua is still a major player in the game.

All of this is accurate. Joshua relies on his physical advantages more than anything else.

On equal playing field, guys equally big, he is very ordinary. Even versus guys nearly as big as him he has many holes.

Joshua is NOT a thinker in the ring and if he wants to be successful at a high level needs to get back to basics.

Not sure if AJ doubled his jab up even ONCE in the fight. Or hooked off the jab. He wanted to play counter-puncher for...reasons unknown. He doesnt have the mind for that so not sure what his trainer had him doing tbh

[BangEM]

I dont think its as much about what Joshua did wrong as it is Usyk just being a probable ATG who is on a different level of ability. I give AJ credit regardless because he has fought a wider range of top level HWs than anybody else in this era. Its easy to **** on him for these losses but so far Fury and Wilder are in a bubble fighting each other over and over for 3 ****ing years now and we just have to assume they are better than the guys they dont fight.

He did a lot of things wrong in that fight.

And it starts with the 1st 3 rds where he coasted.

[KingGilgamesh]

I don’t rate AJ highly but you go way too far.

You come across as a fanboy type boxing fan without the ability to he remotely objective.

I think its true, yet I still think Joshua has another level.

The problem is that level will never be reached unless he or his team accept some home truths. His resume IS smoke and mirrors. Literally built on sand. He doesn't have a single notable win against a formidable opponent of similar age. I want to see him against guys like Joyce, Hrgovic, Wilder and Fury. He's been avoiding risks and he avoided Wilder. Yes, the "100m generational money" offer was bull**** ploy from DAZN to tie Wilder into a long term contract. Until Joshua admits this reality he will never overcome his fears of being sparked out.

Too many people have been lying to Joshua and lying on his behalf. Unless he annexes that element of his image he will never achieve greatness.

[BangEM]

All of this is accurate. Joshua relies on his physical advantages more than anything else.

On equal playing field, guys equally big, he is very ordinary. Even versus guys nearly as big as him he has many holes.

Joshua is NOT a thinker in the ring and if he wants to be successful at a high level needs to get back to basics.

Not sure if AJ doubled his jab up even ONCE in the fight. Or hooked off the jab. He wanted to play counter-puncher for...reasons unknown. He doesnt have the mind for that so not sure what his trainer had him doing tbh

Funnily enough, you claim he isn't a thinker. However, as bad as he fought yesterday, he made adjustments in the mid rds by going to Usyk's body and was having success until his coach told him to fight behind his jab.

His biggest flaw is his corner. Then his mentality.

[JakeTheBoxer]

People, it is boxing. If you fight a good competition, you will likely lose at least once or twice.

To be honest, fighting Klitschko, Parker, Ruiz twice and Usyk a a very hard run.

Joshua is just not that good that he would remain undefeated on that ride.

I would love to see Fury - Usyk.