Usyk vs. Joshua II - NOT CLOSE!!!!

[ELPacman]

Thanks for putting down thoughts that I had in my head but never would of taken the time to write up, lol.

I agree, it wasn't close as people think it was and shame on that ref for giving it to AJ. This created a false sense in AJ's mind that he could of won or perhaps should of won. The reality is he was far from winning this fight. While he appeared to do better in this fight than the first (and certainly did with the body shots), he still appeared so damn mechanical. There was like no fluidity in his movements. You could almost suspect what AJ was waiting to do before he actually did it.

[KingGilgamesh]

Meh, I still think he put in a solid performance. It was closer than the first fight, but getting bogged down about SD/UD just seems redundant to me. Joshua was still the defacto loser in both fights.

In regards to Usyk though, his movement was a thing of sheer beauty. The way he constantly slips the jab and angle changes is genuinely like nothing I've seen before in heavyweight. Its like dancing. I felt like a hard**** for pulling that off once in sparring, this dude does it several times in a round. I also think he plays possum a lot. I'm starting to question just how much those bodyshots were effecting him considering his raise his left arm for a sort of modified philly shell. Its ****ing genius.

[P to the J]

Thanks for putting down thoughts that I had in my head but never would of taken the time to write up, lol.

I agree, it wasn't close as people think it was and shame on that ref for giving it to AJ. This created a false sense in AJ's mind that he could of won or perhaps should of won. The reality is he was far from winning this fight. While he appeared to do better in this fight than the first (and certainly did with the body shots), he still appeared so damn mechanical. There was like no fluidity in his movements. You could almost suspect what AJ was waiting to do before he actually did it.

Lol, getting this a lot. My back’s out, so I’m off work, and uni doesn’t start for another month; I have a LOT of time to watch boxing and chat **** about boxing

[P to the J]

Meh, I still think he put in a solid performance. It was closer than the first fight, but getting bogged down about SD/UD just seems redundant to me. Joshua was still the defacto loser in both fights.

In regards to Usyk though, his movement was a thing of sheer beauty. The way he constantly slips the jab and angle changes is genuinely like nothing I've seen before in heavyweight. Its like dancing. I felt like a hard**** for pulling that off once in sparring, this dude does it several times in a round. I also think he plays possum a lot. I'm starting to question just how much those bodyshots were effecting him considering his raise his left arm for a sort of modified philly shell. Its ****ing genius.

It was a solid fight from AJ, not dis*****g that. More that there is a ceiling to what he can do vs. Usyk; a ceiling he probably won’t find elsewhere.

Usyk was in total control, is levels ahead, and had some left to give, too.

Ofc, the rewatch only served to emphasise the artistry you’re referring to: I’d dislocate a kneecap moving like that man.

[mromano]

P to the J I saw the fight exactly as you have described in your post. I was totally flabbergasted at the 115-113 for AJ and as soon as I heard that score, I was telling my son there is no way they can rob Usyk like this. Thankfully he won, but lord 115-113 AJ? I think AJ's biggest mistake was he didn't redline himself. Once he sustained his body attack in Rd9, I feel like he should have just left it all out to dry and totally spent himself. There is no shame in losing to a superior fighter whether its by decision or KO. I'd have more respect for him if he went out giving everything he had. Except we got to see the poor sport and mental meltdown of a man that was frustrated by a better fighter. This is how I will always remember AJ going forward. Not for his win vs Klitschko or his regaining of the unified title vs Ruiz, but for his 10 minutes post fight meltdown. He's got some life left in him in terms of fighting on. Maybe we can see the AJ-Wilder fight next year?

[M312]

You're not going to change anyone's minds.

Time to move on. We have a winner.

[PRINCEKOOL]

Here’s the problem, Prince, AJ wouldn’t have gotten near an unscathed Usyk like he did in round 9, and would have gassed his tank for nothing.

And the whole reason his r9 assault didn’t work is because Usyk led him a merry dance and took the game, and his plan, away from him earlier on.

So the choice was go for the kill against a fully fit Usyk, or try to weaken Usyk and risk weakening yourself. Just can’t see either working, tbh. His IQ’s an another level.

Further, Usyk didn’t even look hurt. He just looked in complete control.


One thing I will say is you’ve been saying in the lead up that AJ would work to adapt. You called it. He looked like a real boxer in there. Unfortunately for him, he was up against someone who’s got everyone’s number.

If Derek Chisora can find Usyk in the opening rounds of a fight? Anthony Joshua if that was his intention 100%, can find Usyk.

Uysk's speed of foot is being overrated here. Chisora's movement is not the best, and he still found Usyk.

Usyk only created distance with Chisora, when he fatigued 'Otherwise he was all over the place, and could not cope with that type of pressure'.

Joshua's intention really was not to close down Usyk. There was moments in this rematch, were Joshua got on the inside vs Usyk almost by accident 'I then watched Joshua voluntary decide to deliberately remove himself from close range vs Usyk'.

Hear what I have just said. At times Joshua would get on the inside, then deliberately decide to move back into mid-range or long range. You just would not get this type of behavior from Chisora, Fury, Holyfield, Lewis any top heavyweight who knows how to close the distance and stay there.

No matter what Joshua and his team said before this fight. Joshua's intention was not to close down Usyk, and truly find him inside the ring.

Usyk won the fight, he won more rounds than last time. But he did not beat Joshua up, and never really hurt him that bad in my opinion.

Joshua could of changed the entire dynamic of this fight, if he had a solid Jab. I am astonished how under par his Jab is etc.

[Haka]

If Joshua could of hurt and troubled Usyk that much, in round 9. Then if Joshua would of just thrown caution to the wind maybe a few rounds earlier, the fight could of turned out different 'Because Joshua would of been able to exert more force'.

Joshua by round 9 was starting to fatigue, so that attack was not really Joshua at maximum. I was not really one of these people who? Thought Joshua had to just go after Usyk, but now seeing how under par his Jab was, and other skills you associate with a top super heavyweight 'That is exactly what Joshua should of done'.

Joshua may not of won with these tactics, but he may have knocked down Usyk and in general just came out of the fight with masses of admiration.

Joshua still performed somewhat well, he did put in a good effort. But I still don't think he left it truly all in the ring. He has even admitted this himself, he believes he could done better etc.

Usyk won more rounds this time around, but he did not hurt Joshua as much. But out of the two fighters, Joshua hurt Usyk more.

Joshua got his brain rattled all night. Especially in rd 10, Usyk only took a few shots where he was in motion with the shot in round 9. It was never a clean shot that landed.

In R1 and R2, Joshua was still benefiting from him being the bigger guy, full with energy. It is hard for Usyk to much risk then and there, so those two rounds didn't mean anything. It was just AJ trying to implement a Bob and Weave style with some feints and some movements, some things that Robert has instructed him, to be honest, AJ looked like a novice in there the way he was moving. He was just wasting energy.

As OP stated, Usyk turned the ring into quicksand for Joshua starting from R3, and rattled him all night. Why do you think AJ completely lost his head ? He got his brain rattled all night. So who hurt who more ?

[PRINCEKOOL]

Joshua got his brain rattled all night. Especially in rd 10, Usyk only took a few shots where he was in motion with the shot in round 9. It was never a clean shot that landed.

In R1 and R2, Joshua was still benefiting from him being the bigger guy, full with energy. It is hard for Usyk to much risk then and there, so those two rounds didn't mean anything. It was just AJ trying to implement a Bob and Weave style with some feints and some movements, some things that Robert has instructed him, to be honest, AJ looked like a novice in there the way he was moving. He was just wasting energy.

As OP stated, Usyk turned the ring into quicksand for Joshua starting from R3, and rattled him all night. Why do you think AJ completely lost his head ? He got his brain rattled all night. So who hurt who more ?

He was more fatigued than hurt. Usyk struggled to back Joshua up with punches. Joshua after being hit with a rally, still did not really back up.

Joshua for me clearly hurt Usyk more, than Usyk hurt Joshua.

In the first fight, Joshua was clearly more hurt by Usyk's work. Joshua actually under heavy attack, his composure was improved in the rematch.

[Haka]

He was more fatigued than hurt. Usyk struggled to back Joshua up with punches. Joshua after being hit with a rally, still did not really back up.

Joshua for me clearly hurt Usyk more, than Usyk hurt Joshua.

In the first fight, Joshua was clearly more hurt by Usyk's work. Joshua actually under heavy attack, his composure was improved in the rematch.

AJ absolutely put up a much better effort this time around, but he looked like a fool all night, I'd advice you the watch the fight on mute.