Comments Thread For: Fury's Father Defends Joshua: Give AJ a Break, It Was His Corner's Fault

[greeneye99]

Baloney! This loss is all on AJ. It's like that old saying goes "you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink'. Blame his corner for what? It was Joshua in there doing the fighting not his corner.

Joshua lost the fight because he has stopped believing in himself. He no longer trusts his chin or stamina which is why he was so reluctant in taking the necessary risks and chances in order to be successful in the fight.

When that happens a fighter is ruined. He becomes a shot fighter. He is not the same fighter anymore. That Andy Ruiz knockout must've really permanently damaged him.

According to your logic
I guess Wilder is ruined too
Lololololol

[springfiels]

Honestly I think Joshua's finished. I don't think people truly have any respect for him. Fighters who are highly rated get torn to pieces when they put in a less than stellar performance. If it can happen to Loma then it can happen to Joshua too.

Either Joshua is immensely talented and he failed to deliver (more likely) or Joshua is an overrated champion and this is about as good as he could have fought. It shows how we pathetically put personality ahead of talent.

Yes, his corner was poor but he hardly showed anything resembling any ingenuity out there either. Its like he just gave up after the 9th. That's the best a unified heavyweight champion can muster? Seriously?

I agree with some of what you've said there.

But Usyk is a genius, a true P4P talent... It can't be that Usyk is a genius and Joshua is complete dog**** - or it would've been much much worse.

After 8 rounds it was level - 1 judge had Usyk by a round, 1 had Joshua by a round and 1 had a draw. Joshua also won 5 and 6 convincingly and clearly hurt Usyk to the body and head.

You are right that from there Joshua faded, badly. But Usyk's style drains everyone, it makes me tired just watching his non-stop movement, feints and footwork!

On that showing, I think it is possible for Joshua to win 6/7 rounds against Usyk. Not by outboxing him though. He will need to be more aggressive and willing to trade, that is the big IF for me, will he be willing to?

He definitely hasn't been the same fighter since Ruiz 1, and had already gone more safety first before that.

People should be happy. This rematch has literally everything - will be a outrageous spectacle, great card likely, two likeable and exciting fighters and an incredible narrative. Joshua's career is on the line again, and this time he can't simply box a 19 stone slob from the outside for 12 rounds to victory - now we'll really see what he's all about...

[springfiels]

Joshua lost the fight because he has stopped believing in himself. He no longer trusts his chin or stamina which is why he was so reluctant in taking the necessary risks and chances in order to be successful in the fight.

When that happens a fighter is ruined. He becomes a shot fighter. He is not the same fighter anymore. That Andy Ruiz knockout must've really permanently damaged him.

Agreed. This is the question Joshua has to answer now... One of 3 things happens in the rematch imo -
1. Joshua looks spectacular and spiteful again and wins
2. He tries to be more spiteful but can't land and gets stopped
3. He goes out with a whimper and it's a repeat of the first fight - if this happens, he is finished.

[BangEM]

I agree with some of what you've said there.

But Usyk is a genius, a true P4P talent... It can't be that Usyk is a genius and Joshua is complete dog**** - or it would've been much much worse.

After 8 rounds it was level - 1 judge had Usyk by a round, 1 had Joshua by a round and 1 had a draw. Joshua also won 5 and 6 convincingly and clearly hurt Usyk to the body and head.

You are right that from there Joshua faded, badly. But Usyk's style drains everyone, it makes me tired just watching his non-stop movement, feints and footwork!

On that showing, I think it is possible for Joshua to win 6/7 rounds against Usyk. Not by outboxing him though. He will need to be more aggressive and willing to trade, that is the big IF for me, will he be willing to?

He definitely hasn't been the same fighter since Ruiz 1, and had already gone more safety first before that.

People should be happy. This rematch has literally everything - will be a outrageous spectacle, great card likely, two likeable and exciting fighters and an incredible narrative. Joshua's career is on the line again, and this time he can't simply box a 19 stone slob from the outside for 12 rounds to victory - now we'll really see what he's all about...

Do you think AJ would get the decision in the rematch, say, he were to win 6/7 rds? I said this because there's so much anti-AJ bias out there and if I hadn't watched the fight live and rewatched it multiple times - you'd have thought it was a total beatdown based on the noise out there. But the fight was very close and competitive until the late rds. And if AJ had started fast - he would've nicked it.

[Sparked_26]

I agree with some of what you've said there.

But Usyk is a genius, a true P4P talent... It can't be that Usyk is a genius and Joshua is complete dog**** - or it would've been much much worse.

After 8 rounds it was level - 1 judge had Usyk by a round, 1 had Joshua by a round and 1 had a draw. Joshua also won 5 and 6 convincingly and clearly hurt Usyk to the body and head.

You are right that from there Joshua faded, badly. But Usyk's style drains everyone, it makes me tired just watching his non-stop movement, feints and footwork!

On that showing, I think it is possible for Joshua to win 6/7 rounds against Usyk. Not by outboxing him though. He will need to be more aggressive and willing to trade, that is the big IF for me, will he be willing to?

He definitely hasn't been the same fighter since Ruiz 1, and had already gone more safety first before that.

People should be happy. This rematch has literally everything - will be a outrageous spectacle, great card likely, two likeable and exciting fighters and an incredible narrative. Joshua's career is on the line again, and this time he can't simply box a 19 stone slob from the outside for 12 rounds to victory - now we'll really see what he's all about...

This is true. Also the two clear rounds he won were pretty picture perfect. Sort of an endorsement of what he can do albeit nowhere near enough.

So it isn't like there is such a talent disparity that AJ cant win a decision with some changes.

Usyk would start as a big favorite now though. I think AJ would do better and win more rounds but I'd fear for him getting stopped late.

Like you say Usyk is exhausting.

The other thing is it isnt like when AJ did land it didnt have an effect. Usyk is a wiley old fox but I'd be surprised if AJ didnt hurt him a few times especially in those two rounds. So if he does get more success how many big right hands can Usyk really hold. That is the hope for AJ anyway

[springfiels]

Do you think AJ would get the decision in the rematch, say, he were to win 6/7 rds? I said this because there's so much anti-AJ bias out there and if I hadn't watched the fight live and rewatched it multiple times - you'd have thought it was a total beatdown based on the noise out there. But the fight was very close and competitive until the late rds. And if AJ had started fast - he would've nicked it.

Yeah I think he'd get a decision if he won 6 rounds as clearly as he won rounds 5 and 6 say, especially in the UK..

I agree with you, I have watched it back a few times now, and it's actually a really good fight. Usyk clearly wins, but that was down to those last 4-5 rounds. At the end of round 6, most people thought Joshua was about to take over...

It annoys me how people are giving Usyk all the credit while also tearing Joshua down at the same time. Can't have it both ways.

[springfiels]

This is true. Also the two clear rounds he won were pretty picture perfect. Sort of an endorsement of what he can do albeit nowhere near enough.

So it isn't like there is such a talent disparity that AJ cant win a decision with some changes.

Usyk would start as a big favorite now though. I think AJ would do better and win more rounds but I'd fear for him getting stopped late.

Like you say Usyk is exhausting.

Yeah I agree. What a lot of people within the industry said turned out to be very true - Joshua has to stop, or put serious dents in Usyk, in the first half of the fight. If he don't, Joshua fades too much for someone with Usyk's output and brains and it becomes a dangerous place for Joshua.

[JakeTheBoxer]

Sure they all must keep telling themselves Joshua will be a champ again. everybody hates Hearn, but AJ is a cash cow still.

Unfortunately, Joshua will be gone after Usyk beats his ass again.

[Bronx2245]

AJ was used to boxers who either don't attack when attacked or don't move to chase him. Ruiz did the first thing and won. But lost the rematch for the second reason. Usyk does both things VERY well.

Ruiz lost the 2nd fight because he BALLOONED up in weight!

Andy Ruiz Jr. Says 'Partying' and Weight Gain Contributed to Anthony Joshua Loss

According to Luke Reddy of BBC Sport, Ruiz admitted he failed to reach prime condition before the fight because of excessive partying and celebrating after his shock win over AJ on June 1 in New York. The Mexican tipped the scales 15 pounds heavier before the rematch, and he was dominated by Joshua for most of the fight.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2866008-andy-ruiz-jr-says-partying-and-weight-gain-contributed-to-anthony-joshua-loss

[BangEM]

Yeah I think he'd get a decision if he won 6 rounds as clearly as he won rounds 5 and 6 say, especially in the UK..

I agree with you, I have watched it back a few times now, and it's actually a really good fight. Usyk clearly wins, but that was down to those last 4-5 rounds. At the end of round 6, most people thought Joshua was about to take over...

It annoys me how people are giving Usyk all the credit while also tearing Joshua down at the same time. Can't have it both ways.

That's a task too daunting because there will always be 3-4 close rds in this matchup like it was in the first one on Saturday. But most people gave Usyk the close rds because he landed the cleaner shots. So I guess AJ would need a KD to get the decision in a close fight.

The last paragraph: AJ might be a PPV draw but he's also the most hated boxer out here amongst the loudest voices on social media and in the media. He's basically Mayweather 2.0 without the boxing genius and undefeated record. That's why I don't understand his public persona.