Comments Thread For: Bradley Believes Joshua's Confidence No Longer The Same, He's Scared To Get Hit

[Monty Fisto]

He's afraid to get hit says Bradley, but he took Usyk's left straight down the pipe too many times for my liking.

He doesn't like getting hit, I'll grant that -- but who does?

He fought a strategically odd fight, there's no getting away from that, but I think we almost certainly have to see a more agressive approach if the rematch happens (and I think it will).

[aboutfkntime]

Joshua’s problems go back further than Ruiz and, tbh, I’m not sure it’s as simple as “fear of getting hit”, considering he fought Pulev like he was there to collect ******** debts.

I’ve previously argued the man’s problem is getting caught between styles in the aftermath of Klitschko. McCracken saw him get knocked down, tried to change him into a boxer instead of a brawler, but inexplicably forget to teach him feet placement, proper head movement and a guard. McCracken assumed, possibly correctly, that Joshua would get into trouble continuing to fight ******, like he did for large parts of that particular fight.

Of course, his coaching and/or Joshua’s boxing IQ come under scrutiny here, because he has gotten into trouble anyway.

It’s possible that there is a limit to what a guy without an amateur career can do, but my take is, thanks to their combined incompetence, he’s neither boxer nor brawler, now.

I like dunking on AJ, he deserves it... but you are definitely correct

it took a significant change of style - and more importantly - a significant change of mentality... to reverse that shocking loss to Ruiz... which is actually what Bradley is referring to in my humble opinion

AJ is caught between a rock and a hard place

should he risk fighting to his strength, by imposing himself physically... or should he play it safe, and bank that win... like he did in the rematch

watch Wladimir Klitschko in his first few fights with Steward, he was exactly the same

Klitschko had the exact same problem until he settled into the style that Steward was crafting

the thing is, you can do both... great fighters can box, then ****, at the drop of a hat... but that takes confidence, which comes from experience... and like you pointed out, AJ is short on both of those things at this point... which is why he got caught between styles with Usyk

a skilled boxer with respectable power - like Usyk - is just the guy to exploit that situation

it is far more accurate to say that AJ laid a egg in that fight, than it is to say that Usyk put on a masterclass... which is why the casuals and ****riders are in for a BIG shock when Usyk fights Fury... who can seamlessly transition between boxing/****ing without even thinking about it... again, a instinct that comes with experience

Usyk will be far less effective against Fury

AJ aint scared, like some little kid... but he is wary, and he is concerned... because he KNOWS that he can be hurt... Ruiz landed a punch that buzzed AJ, which led to more clean punches landing... and Usyk did the exact same thing, he buzzed AJ and then followed up with more clean punches... AJ is lucky that Usyk is not as abrasive as Ruiz or it could have been another short night

it is correct to say that AJ needs more time to develop his style, but it is just as correct to say that AJ needs more time to develop mentally

good post bro



#experience
#experienceisthekeytoEVERYTHINGinlife






......

[hugh grant]

Bradley has 1 win over pac in the record books. Castillo has 0 wins over Floyd in the record books.

Bradley has 1 robbery in history books and Floyd has 1 also. Not sure Bradley or Floyd s proud of that

[Kris Silver]

It's a combo of three things, 1 that loss to Ruiz. That was the second or third time he was nearly taking his opponent out with aggression (Wlad, Whyte, then Ruiz) and immediately took a massive shot himself which stunned/floored or lead to him being defeated.

2. Mentally he has gone quite philosophical and not letting himself get angry, down, being happy with whatever outcome in boxing and life. It's quite inspiring but is making him a tad soft and defensive, okay with losing, losing his aggression and passion.

3. His trainer Rob McCracken, has basically said AJ doesn't need to change much tactically in the rematch. That is severely worrying and showing how out of his depths he is with tactics. Time for AJ to move on from McCracken with poor tactical advice like that even after it's failed once. But he won't ditch him.

[Boxingfanatic75]

Tyson Fury is better than Deontay Wilder. He hasn’t proven anything beyond that. You can romanticize the fantasy that somehow getting beat down and layed out is a good thing all you want. But Deontay Wilder went out. Anthony Joshua did not.

I don’t think you truly understand the difference and what I said. Wilder went the way he wanted when he lost and it isn’t romanticizing anything. Wilder lost to the #1 HW in the world. AJ QUIT HE QUIT. Wilder proved that he got KOd by the #1 HW in the world. AJ had he NOT QUIT would have gotten KOd by a last minute, unranked replacement.

See the difference? Clear enough?

[Boxingfanatic75]

So punch stats don’t count. Got it… What about the judges scorecards? Do those count?

No, punch stats DO NOT COUNT. Have you watched boxing? Do you even know what boxing scoring criteria is?

[P to the J]

great post

Thanks man, no-one has ever said that to me about anything. Not even my mum

[P to the J]

[QUOTE=aboutfkntime;n31139627]






I like dunking on AJ, he deserves it... but you are definitely correct

it took a significant change of style - and more importantly - a significant change of mentality... to reverse that shocking loss to Ruiz... which is actually what Bradley is referring to in my humble opinion

AJ is caught between a rock and a hard place

should he risk fighting to his strength, by imposing himself physically... or should he play it safe, and bank that win... like he did in the rematch

watch Wladimir Klitschko in his first few fights with Steward, he was exactly the same

Klitschko had the exact same problem until he settled into the style that Steward was crafting

the thing is, you can do both... great fighters can box, then ****, at the drop of a hat... but that takes confidence, which comes from experience... and like you pointed out, AJ is short on both of those things at this point... which is why he got caught between styles with Usyk

a skilled boxer with respectable power - like Usyk - is just the guy to exploit that situation

it is far more accurate to say that AJ laid a egg in that fight, than it is to say that Usyk put on a masterclass... which is why the casuals and ****riders are in for a BIG shock when Usyk fights Fury... who can seamlessly transition between boxing/****ing without even thinking about it... again, a instinct that comes with experience

Usyk will be far less effective against Fury

AJ aint scared, like some little kid... but he is wary, and he is concerned... because he KNOWS that he can be hurt... Ruiz landed a punch that buzzed AJ, which led to more clean punches landing... and Usyk did the exact same thing, he buzzed AJ and then followed up with more clean punches... AJ is lucky that Usyk is not as abrasive as Ruiz or it could have been another short night

it is correct to say that AJ needs more time to develop his style, but it is just as correct to say that AJ needs more time to develop mentally

good post bro



#experience
#experienceisthekeytoEVERYTHINGinlife







Cheers, you made some great points, too. The only place in which we diverge is our views on Usyk, not that I’m dismissing your take on him, though.

But I reckon that history will be kinder to Joshua re: his Usyk defeat than they were about Ruiz.

In a couple of years, I suspect people won’t be saying Joshua lost to a ‘blown up cruiserweight’, but that he should have lost to him, because there is an absolutely chasm between them respective abilities.

The questions for Usyk are: (1) can he repeat his first HW trick?

I reckon yes.

(2) and has he had enough boxing experience to understand how to circumvent the boxers like Wilder and Fury actually know how to use their size?

I think he’s seen arguably everything in 400+ fights. Fury’s the question mark for me, but I reckon Usyk wins this one too.

[peplz]

power landed: usyk 96. joshua 71.
jabs landed: usyk 52. joshua 52.

official cards: 117-112. 116-112. 115-113.

Usyk had AJ hurt a few times.

8-4 or 9-3 are both fair. 7-5 is too favourable ta AJ.

I watched the fight. He never had him hurt. He definitely had the commentators excited with all of them missed punches at the end of the fight. And did you see Usyk’s face? He looked more busted up than Joshua did.

[peplz]

I don’t think you truly understand the difference and what I said. Wilder went the way he wanted when he lost and it isn’t romanticizing anything. Wilder lost to the #1 HW in the world. AJ QUIT HE QUIT. Wilder proved that he got KOd by the #1 HW in the world. AJ had he NOT QUIT would have gotten KOd by a last minute, unranked replacement.

See the difference? Clear enough?

I know you want to push a narrative. But its lost on me. Romanticizing taking heavy punishment and getting beaten bloody and rendered unconscious makes about as much sense as PRETENDING that Anthony Joshua some how quit against Ruiz. Only the Deontay Wilder fantasy narrative pushers try so hard to tell that story. Deontay Wilder went out. Cold. Anthony Joshua did not.