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

[VashDBasher]

Lampley says that Usyk is a " southpaw Joe Frazier " . Huh ??? Joe Frazier was a bull dog knockout artist with crippling power. Usyk is a featherfisted heavyweight . Orthodox, southpaw, Usyk doesn't resemble Frazier at all. Yes, Usyk won fair and square . Quite easy actually. But hes not a " southpaw " Joe Frazier. Thankfully Lampley is rarely on any telecast anymore.

This is Lampley we’re talking about here. It shouldn’t come as a surprise.

[labash]

All said Usyx is incredibly gift southpaw. However, I must state here categorically, all Usyx did was about what AJ left undone and I agreed for the 1st TYM with Dillian, its a weirdo. If AJ comes out not Jabbing or hanging is right hand all night, trust me if not KO, he will Decision and I mean a Klitschko performance with a page from FMJr vs Pacquiaos fight. He will be back. Dillian said may what we do not know happened

[15round]

Joshua still has Ruiz in his head. In early August he talked about the Ruiz fight. Why would he even be thinking about Ruiz when he is facing Usyk in six weeks. Joshua and real boxing fans know there was no redemption in the second Ruiz fight. It was on paper only. Pulez is just a slower version of Joshua so it was like a sparring session. I don't think he will ever recover from the Ruiz fight. He was beaten down so badly he had to quit that night. He can be as aggressive as he wants against Ruiz or Usyk. Ruiz has a better chin and inside fighting. Usyk has better overall skills and a yet to be tested chin. Joshua didn't land a haymaker because Usyk would not allow that. Ruiz took his best and came back and we all know what happened.

[M111]

I rewatched the fight again last night as I think that gives a much more impartial view. I think the current narrative is a bit skewed. Here are my thoughts;

The fight was close. Right up to the 9th every round was reasonably even and Joshua had moments of success in every round. In other words although Usyk was out boxing and out landing him, it wasn’t by a lot. It was after a surge from Joshua in the 9th that he began to tire and Usyk started pulling away. My view on how Joshua may do in a rematch had altered slightly as realistically he doesn’t have a huge amount to do as it was genuinely close up until the championship rounds. Joshua needs to tuck up better and sharpen up that left hook considerably - in much the same way Lopez did with Loma to stop his lateral movement and close the door on that straight left once he’s stepped round to the side. Take that one punch away and the dynamic of the fight changes. He also needs to concentrate on the body more in the early rounds perhaps almost exclusively to take away Usyk’s movement. Mexican fighters used to deliberately hit the top of the thighs in the same way Canelo attached Calum Smiths arms. Take away Usyk’s legs and it completely changes the game. Get that straight right / uppercut to the body working. Realistically if Joshua does those things the rematch could be a lot closer. I think that gives him a better chance than a Hagler’esque style bum rush for 3 rounds. Whether McCracken had the nouse to see those things is another matter. His boxing wasn’t bad, he was just that little bit slower than Usyk throughout and Usyk made that count.

[M111]

I should add that I had gone against the flow and predicted that Usyk would win in precisely the way he did prior to the fight.

[MrShakeAndBake]

I was surprised how mobile and fast his hands were at 220

[Bob]

I questioned b4 the fight has Usyk been sandbagging?
His punch output had been low compared to when he boxed at Cruiserweight.
Well last weekend he had that intensity back & he schooled the much bigger guy that believed in his own hype so much so, he went into the fight to out box a far superior boxer.
Aj is a circumstance of his own milking of the belts on his oldmandatory tour giving all the 38-41yr olds a nice little pension pot & in return they made him look good they were so static.
He's now lost 2 out of 4 & Both came against opponents from his own generation with fast hand's that Aj simply isn't used to.
Aj doesn't have a size advantage if you don't stand in front of him like a heavy bag. If you move its a weight disadvantage because Aj is slow.

The rematch, what's Aj gonna do that Usyk hasn't already seen? A 2step? A 1 2 cuddle aka a Klitschko who Usyk handled in sparring.
I personally can't wait for Usyk to put an end to Eddie clinging onto the belts with contracts & clauses. They should get back in line & Earn they're shot again like the greats did.

[TheCell8]

The fight was 4-4 heading into the 9th and Usyk had another gear and won the last 4. But AJ was in the fight it wasn't a complete white wash. A victory is possible but he needs to actually use his advantages ie. use his size. I've seen him do it before. It has less to do with intensity and more to do with better game planning and conditioning.

[NorvernRob]

I questioned b4 the fight has Usyk been sandbagging?
His punch output had been low compared to when he boxed at Cruiserweight.
Well last weekend he had that intensity back & he schooled the much bigger guy that believed in his own hype so much so, he went into the fight to out box a far superior boxer.
Aj is a circumstance of his own milking of the belts on his oldmandatory tour giving all the 38-41yr olds a nice little pension pot & in return they made him look good they were so static.
He's now lost 2 out of 4 & Both came against opponents from his own generation with fast hand's that Aj simply isn't used to.
Aj doesn't have a size advantage if you don't stand in front of him like a heavy bag. If you move its a weight disadvantage because Aj is slow.

The rematch, what's Aj gonna do that Usyk hasn't already seen? A 2step? A 1 2 cuddle aka a Klitschko who Usyk handled in sparring.
I personally can't wait for Usyk to put an end to Eddie clinging onto the belts with contracts & clauses. They should get back in line & Earn they're shot again like the greats did.

Meanwhile, Fury and Wilder have been fighting since 2018. No.1 contenders have been and gone without getting a shot.

[Fighter78]

Miller is nothing special. He hasn't fought anyone. I think his style was custom made for pre Ruiz AJ who would have fought toe to toe with him and had way superior skills. Listen Miller will never fight again but its probably best because he was a roided up Arreola.

Ruiz was nothing special and he hadn't fought anyone prior to AJ either so what exactly is your point? Miller's combo punching and imo faster hands definitely would've been trouble for Joshua. You don't think he would've clipped AJ at least once? Ruiz did it...several times.....and Usyk had Joshua badly hurt twice......Dillian Whyte rocked AJ good....so you're telling me big baby miller isn't as good as dillian Whyte? Come on man!