Why Joshua Seen As Lacking Heart

[Nash out]

I think what we might be looking at is a case of the silk pyjamas syndrome.

I rewatch Ed the AJ vs Whyte fight the other day and I couldn't belive the difference in psychology between the AJ then and the one of the last 2-3 years.

They've spent years trying to make him this PC, Ghandi like figure, and I think that, combined with the money has softened the guy up. He doesn't look interested in fighting anymore to me, and if he's insisting on keeping the same set up, I think it's over.


I would be stunned if he turns it around in the rematch

I agree. I think Joshua is more of a fighter, to go all-out kind of man, than a boxer. Once someone put it into his head that he can outbox anyone, that was the beginning of his downslide. Have you seen the reaction on his face after Usyk got the decision? He was stunned, he generally thought he won, and won comfortably, despite that I, and most others only gave him 3 rounds.

Also, he was very unwilling to go to the trenches. Imagine Fury vs Usyk, if it was going the same way, would Fury just allow the last 4 rounds to pitter out and lose? No. He'd be chasing Usyk around the ring going balls to the wall. So in that sense, Joshua was unwilling to risk anything to secure a win, and just 'took' the loss.

I don't know what he was being told in his corner though. I assumed they were telling him he's 4/5/6/7 points down, as to be honest, Joshua did not win 1 clear round, he maybe edged 3.

I think Joshua needs to be let off the leash now. No preplanned speeches, just let him be in his man. In Wrestling terms turn him from a face to a heel. He has to be bad and dangerous to have any chance vs Usyk. Nash out.

[removed]

Joshua has a look of fear when he's fighting. It's a really bad look for a boxer.

[deathofaclown]

Joshua has a look of fear when he's fighting. It's a really bad look for a boxer.

It’s like David Price or Audley Harrison

When they used to fight, it looked like they would rather be anywhere else but in that ring.

AJ is becoming like that more and more. He’s a better fighter than them, but he’s developed that look of fear.

[Noelanthony]

he has heart imo

But the way others speak of him. As if he needs to train his heart

Is it because he's the division's pretty boy

Big AJ fan here but that Defeat to Usyk left a sour taste in my mouth. Yes there is no shame being out boxed by Usyk but when he realised he was being beaten to the punch he showed no urgency to let his fists fly. He let a foreigner come to his own back yard in front of his family and friends and just beat him up and leave. I actually like Usyk so its no such a hard pill to swallow.....The writing was on the wall after the Pulev victory and they asked Aj why he didnt go for the kill and he said he learned his lesson from Andy Ruiz. Its that apprehension why he will get himself exposed again if he doesnt change. He has the tools to drown USYK but he is second guessing himself. Im tired of all these second chances he needs to beat one opponent

[Noelanthony]

And that's why I'm telling people here and also on Reddit because I'm seeing a LOT of people who just don't understand what a FIGHT is anymore because they haven't seen them like the old days.

a FIGHT is two guys trying to hurt each other.

That's not what Joshua does anymore.

That's not what Frank Sanchez does.

I can forgive weight classes under heavyweight. I can't forgive any heavyweight who does not go in there with intent to inflict damage. I cannot, and I will not.

Wilder and Fury showed us what FIGHTERS look like at heavyweight. It doesn't matter what the outcome was. They went in there trying to hurt each other and frankly, succeeded. In the meanwhile they entertained the fans for the first time in a LONG time, as far as heavyweights go. They showed us what a heavyweight FIGHT is supposed to look like. It's not supposed to be a boxing masterclass.

What frustrates me is, Tons of people are criticizing the lack of skill in that fight and they say it wasn't that good. Yet I GUARANDAMNTEE you, the next time Erislandy Lara, Shakur Stevenson or Devin Haney go in there, there will be a ton of complaints.

Hypocrisy.

This is one of your better posts. Well said

[Pac=Duran]

he has heart imo

But the way others speak of him. As if he needs to train his heart

Is it because he's the division's pretty boy

The reaction to the Ruiz fight was a joke tbh. He didn’t quit. He got to his feet and couldn’t hear a word the red was saying. He was knocked down 5 or 6 times. These people want to see fighters they don’t like beaten to death.

[Noelanthony]

Jesus, I'm not even that experienced a fighter and even I can tell when a fighter is looking for a way out. Its obvious, they tend to fall back, don't commit to combinations, their body language is just all wrong. Joshua has shown this twice now. Its not any kind of grand conspiracy, its just obvious. I wouldn't even call it a lack of heart per se, just a tentativeness which is often the first earmark of a shot fighter.

You are wrong Klitschko used to be an all action offensive fighter until he was knocked out anyway he became tentative and ruled the heavyweight division for 10 years his tentativeness was not an earmark of a shot fighter

[Combat Talk Radio]

The reaction to the Ruiz fight was a joke tbh. He didn’t quit. He got to his feet and couldn’t hear a word the red was saying. He was knocked down 5 or 6 times. These people want to see fighters they don’t like beaten to death.

The guy literally spit out his mouthpiece, bro.

[deathofaclown]

The reaction to the Ruiz fight was a joke tbh. He didn’t quit. He got to his feet and couldn’t hear a word the red was saying. He was knocked down 5 or 6 times. These people want to see fighters they don’t like beaten to death.

If you spit out your gum shield, lay back with your arms on the ropes and don’t walk forward when the ref signals, you’re going to get waved off.

He didn’t want anymore. That’s ok, he had nothing left to offer in the fight in his mind but the harsh reality is there’s fighters that wouldn’t let themselves get waved off so easily. That’s the real problem, when things get tough, he’s going to come up against fighters that will dig deeper.

[Pac=Duran]

If you spit out your gum shield, lay back with your arms on the ropes and don’t walk forward when the ref signals, you’re going to get waved off.

He didn’t want anymore. That’s ok, he had nothing left to offer in the fight in his mind but the harsh reality is there’s fighters that wouldn’t let themselves get waved off so easily. That’s the real problem, when things get tough, he’s going to come up against fighters that will dig deeper.

5 KDs though. Vicious temple shots. The ref or corner should have waved it.