Comments Thread For: Without an Intensity Implant, Joshua's Rematch Outlook Seems Bleak

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Lyle Fitzsimmons - I read somewhere that we shouldn't write Anthony Joshua off just yet. That because he's a big, athletic guy that he can still be a heavyweight elite. All he's got to do, the piece insisted, was simply change his entire in-ring persona. Stop being a gentleman. Turn into a tenacious, chip-on-shoulder monster.
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[Tatabanya]

So, even Jim Lampley considers Lewis' win over the corpse of a drugged, bankrupt Tyson as a real fight.

[1hourRun]

One day you’re a cautious giant, the next you’re a blood-thirsty marauder.

Do that, and poof … Oleksandr Usyk will be reduced to a rematch footnote.

As if doing that were as easy as flicking a switch.

Just imagine how history would have been written if it were.

But it’s not.

Joshua was probably seconds away from stopping Andy Ruiz before getting clipped when they met for the first time in June 2019 – but he arrived to the second fight six months later not as a vengeful beast looking to risk it all to vanquish a rival, but as a combat-averse giant who shied away from anything resembling a prolonged exchange, for fear of a repeat embarrassment.

ex-HBO stalwart Jim Lampley told Boxing Scene. “And why did (Joshua) fight him anyway? Southpaw, quicker, better skills. What is Eddie Hearn smoking?”

Your lively-witty critical appraisals after upsets are very enjoyable reads, good job Mr. Fitzsimmons.

[TheClap]

Wait - isn't this the same writer who predicted an AJ KO by round 10? So now just because of a bad night at the office, AJ is written off? Such flip-flopping has not been beheld since my automatic light switch went berserk on me

[steeve steel]

Joshua lacks character. Unfortunately, no amount of training can help that.

[Corelone]

AJ got the benifit of the doubt in the London Olympics. The Cuban and the Italian throttled him. Hearn took that and went about buying him a load of second hand titles, Fury leavings, vs a bunch of lottery winners. Andy pulled the curtains back, only because Eddy was looking for a fat American to harpoon, and Hearn was exposed. AJ got his titles back, in a shamefull display, hot footing in a huge ring, out in the boonies. If you look at it like that, Usyk wasn't too much of an underdog. Usyk has to know AJ got those titles from from 280 pound Andy, so Usyk had to smoke AJ out. Fury still rules in the new world and part of the old. Wilder might win Oct 9th, but Fury is no home made robot.

[Baba K]

Joshua lacks character. Unfortunately, no amount of training can help that.

"Lacks character" is harsh...he got buzzed by Whyte, dropped by Klitschko and fought thru adversity to win both...plus, he has fought more world rated fighters than Fury & Wilder combined...character isn't the issue, he just got beat. Excepting Marciano...with heavyweights, that eventually happens if they fight long enough.

With that said...he does appear to need a little more savagery in him to KEEP the titles not just win them. I think it may be hunger that is lacking.

[MANNY67]

Joshua will never beat Usyk ever,even if they fought 100 times

[PredatorStyle]

I can't believe people are writing AJ off so easily. It's not totally outside of the bounds of possibility that he could come back more aggressive and imposing and with pressure and will win a rematch, similar to Fury's rematch.

[removed]

Joshua lacks character. Unfortunately, no amount of training can help that.

He lacks a chin as well.