Comments Thread For: Robert Garcia: Joshua Has To Be Smart Against Usyk, Can't Go In There Thinking KO

[wileyhemi]

Joshua has to be smart but his problem is Usyk is smarter

[Oldskoolg]

Literally the only advantage olawufemi has is his size and strength, nothing else…zero advantages elsewhere. The ONLY chance he has is to make it a bruising affair and hope the superior man cannot cope

[Oldskoolg]

He’s not actually that bulky anymore. He’s the right weight for an athlete of his height, and he’s not even that slow (anymore).

His problem is that he’s not a boxer in any sense of the word. Stance is wrong: square and flat-footed. Can’t adjust in-ring to shifting scenarios: doesn’t know when to apply pressure, and when to hang back. Ineffective guard, still not much head movement, etc.

Spot on assessment. Furthermore, notice how often we say that fighters lack head movement these days? Seems to be a dying art, like combination punching and cutting off the ring

[MANNY67]

Some people are just living in denial, no matter how much verbal crap and insulting others who don’t agree with the people who disagree all shall be revealed 20 /08/2022

[Dakuwaqa]

As far as Garcias statement I agree.

The game plan shouldn't be to go looking for a KO, the game plan should be to dictate the pace of the fight using Joshuas size advantage.

He didn't do this in the first fight, instead coming out immediately in round 1 and engaging in a fencing match with usyk which was utter ******ity, and he didn't deviate from that plan at all.

I've said before he needs to stay out of that distance where Usyk can box him comfortably, there's two distances that suit AJ and that's long range and right on top of Usyk, if he's at Any distance other than that he needs to cover up behind tight defence and look to move either forward or back. Do not box him at mid range.

This will frustrate Usyk as he will either have to try box long range with the taller opponent or wrestle him off at point blank range.

If Joshua does this he also won't have to think as much as he won't be having a constant high pace chess match for 12 rounds. This will be a boring approach to take but it's the approach that makes Joshuas size the key factor in the fight not Usyk's technical skill.

AJs best work comes at mid-range where he can let of his fast hooks and uppercuts.

For a man of his size (and a 82inch reach) he doesn’t fight well at distance. His jab isn’t great and his straight right is telegraphed and easy to read.

He’s always struggled landing long straight punches with any consistency. Just look at the Povetkin fight.

He’s never mastered how to ‘fight big’ like Klitschko

[REDEEMER]

It's mental people saying AJ has no chance. This is heavyweight boxing.

Usyk is definitely the favourite. But, I don't read too much into the first fight because AJ came out with an unexpected strategy that didn't work at all. He shouldn't do that twice.
He made the mistake of trying to play chess with a grandmaster. It was ****** to try and outbox Usyk.

I don't expect this one to go the distance. AJ if he has any ambition to win, will be more aggressive this time.

For every time a poster said a boxer has no chance then wins on this forum I’d be a very rich man .

This will be another thread that posters will want to go away after the fight .

[nick_viking]

I had money on Usyk the first time round having followed him since the amateurs, this time, I think he can beat AJ any way he likes. That’s not to run AJ down, I just think Usyk is a boxing natural, whereas AJ is a great all round athlete, who has to train very hard to be where he is - but perhaps lacks the ability the very best fighters have to adapt in the ring.

The differences in footwork and boxing IQ are where AJ will struggle to catch up with Usyk, regardless of the trainer. Usyk will be able to adjust to whatever game plan AJ comes in with, within a couple of rounds.

I don’t see a stoppage this time, but a well beaten AJ again after 12.

[Bob]

Translation... After spending time with Aj I've come to realise how slow wooden & without natural ability & low iq he really is. How did he ever get a belt & retain? Oh yeah Martin & fighting shot old men.

EVERYONE! This is not a size & strength competition, it's a boxing match.
One is a giant cross trainer that boxes occasionally. The other is a southpaw master boxer with hundreds of fight's with one of the best iq's in the game.

Let's compare, jab Usyk, footwork Usyk, head movement Usyk, control Usyk, hulk smash static slow old or c-class opponent Aj.

[Bob]

Some say Usyk is yet to be tested at heavyweight

[Corelone]

What's AJs choice? Be ******?