Comments Thread For: Impartiality Might Be Dead, But at Least AJ Was Getting Real

[Bo Tae]

I think he raised a valid point of objectivity in journalism. I was watching lots of interviews in the build-up for this fight. It was an AJ show. Usyk, the great champ, was virtually nonexistent. At best, someone in passing would say:"Yes, Usyk is great boxer" and only while discussing what AJ should do to beat him. The whole boxing journalism (with a few exceptions) turned into AJ cheerleading squad. It was embarrassing. If Usyk were to be paid proportionally to how much attention he got compared to AJ, he'd be fighting for free. In fact, he'd owe us money. It was disgraceful to watch - the whole boxing world and AJ vs a truly talented, humble, decent guy from a war-torn Ukraine. So, I'm glad someone publicly raised it. And I'm even happier that he won. And they all lost.

Great comment. But how sad is it that we have to be happy that a guy who won the fight easily just got by with a split decision win?

They figured they would either rob Usyk outright, or if it was too one-sided for that, create a narrative about how "close" it was,
how the great AJ had tried so hard but just fallen short. This will make a big difference in public perception of AJ going forward
rather than admitting he got smoked, again.

When the truth is, AJ won a couple of rounds.

That wasn't "journalism" we saw around the AJ-Usyk rematch. It was typing.

[aAgger]

The article makes a good point: the reason why the British media is so biased towards AJ is because he brings in the money. He's broken PPV records in the UK, and revived mainstream interest in the heavyweight division. Many UK news outlets have profited from AJ, so they're biased towards him because that's what makes them money.

[aAgger]

I think you need to get a grip mate, and sort your attitude out. And everyone who agree's with you, also needs to do the same.

Most fighters at some point in their career, let their frustration, emotions or competitiveness boil over. This has resulted in brawls, verbal abuse and threats.

Chisora had a brawl with David Haye, Mike Tyson has done similar with numerous opponents 'Outside the ring, during build ups and actually after fights'.

Lennox Lewis, Rid**** Bower, Roberto Duran, these are all 'All time great fighters who are highly respected, who have let the heat of competition spill over at some point'.

Do you want me to post the video's? Do you have any idea, about the history of boxing? Does anyone on this forum or thread have any idea about the history of boxing and how historically fighters have behaved at times? I am completely amazed by what I am reading here. I think it is absolutely pathetic.

Muhammad Ali, yes that is right Muhammad Ali has also many a times let the competition boil over outside the ring. There are some very notorious and famous incidents, regarding Sonny Listen and Joe Frazier many more of his opponents. That is why I truly do not understand this backlash with Anthony Joshua, it is definitely a result of some kind of agenda against Joshua 'That is more sinister than it originally appears'.

There must be a institutionalized agenda, which some people fall for because they are lemmings. Fury has just given a interview with talk sport were he for close to 20 minutes gave Usyk heavy abuse and no real acknowledgement that he is great boxer 'How come he is not being criticized for this, if you guys are all so upset by Joshua small outburst?'.

So what is your issue? Boxing is a very real sport, with very real dangers and consequences. How Anthony Joshua behaved on the weekend was extremely mild, very tame compared to most of the incidents that have happened in boxing.

So why is he being overly criticized? I tell you why, because there is a growing completely fake virtue signalling cult in boxing. Of people who pine over sportsmanship.

Are you one of them? Are you one of these people who pine over seeing boxers, hugging, shaking hands and being best mates before fights? Surely I am not the only posters who have noticed this group of people. For me the only respect opponents need to show each other, is preparing optimally and not cheating 'And as far as I am concerned Anthony Joshua did just that'.

Did you even watch the build up to Wilder vs Fury I, II, III 'The things both fighters said, and how they behaved was way more hostile than Joshua'. But that is alright, I have no issue with this, that is what you call 'Passion, raw competitive passion'.

It happens mate, John Mcenroe used to react and let the passion of competition boil over all of the time. What is worst? How Anthony Joshua behaved or this below?

It is just a combination of passion, frustration and competitiveness. Get a grip people, pathetic.

Let also factor in that Joshua apologized after the fight. He was clearly suffering after the fight, and you can tell by how he behaved none of that was natural to him.

Note: I want to let people know in general, that it is alright to overtly show passion. It is not a crime to let frustration and competitiveness boil over sometimes 'Depending on the actions you take'. Anthony Joshua did not threaten anybody, he did not attack anybody physically, all he did was give a suffering and painful speech 'I personally did not like seeing it because, I could see that Joshua was suffering and needed to be stopped by his team'.

Can we take any positives from it? I think if your a Joshua fan you can 'It shows that he has not truly accepted the loss, and he still wants to win real bad'. How many fighters are there these days who deep down, don't compete intrinsically to win 'Joshua is not one of those fighters'.

There is a definitely a institutionalized agenda against Joshua.

Agreed. Boxers are fighters, not gentlemen. If fans want sportsmanship, then go watch another sport.

However, I think a big reason for the hate is the cognitive dissonance. He's always presented himself as a nice guy, and that's what backfired. Nice guys are judged more harshly than bad boys for doing the same thing.

[greeneye99]

AJ a bum. He was obviously concussed badly after the fight he yelled bismallah at the end of his rant too it was painful as hell. He got bad CTE he needs to retire

Wow
Calling a HW champion a Bum?
That's the best you can do to explain yourself in the comments?
You shoud have stayed in school a bit longer
Smh Lets see how you perform in a boxing ring

[Bo Tae]

The way the media in Britain have rallied around and lied to Joshua yet again is truly pathetic.

spencer Oliver writing love letters to his man. Laura woods, and so many others have tried their best to make joshua the winner. They’ve given minimal air time or praise to usyk and it’s all about how great joshua did. People need to turn off the sound, re watch the fight and score it again.

Joshua did slightly better than the first fight. All this talk the media wanna give about “he only started boxing at 15” or “he made boxing what it is today” “if aj retires boxing loses something and many people lose their jobs, stadium fights won’t return”

or how about Spencer telling Joshua
“You outboxed the best boxer on earth!”
they’ve implied that he gets treat harsher than any other fighter in this country! Apparently he doesn’t get the respect he deserves either.

Why didn’t they talk like this when he was bullying an old shot pulev AFTER stopping him already in their fight.

Bellew licking AJ backside too. They made sure that these people were unopposed essentially when spreading this rubbish. They made sure that nobody was their to argue the other side. That on top of the dodgy judges that were bought off (Feldman) just shows us the corruption in this sport.

So pathetic.

Yes, the great Usyk treated like a nobody because the Brit sports media doesn't want to lose their cash cow.

Joshua won a couple of rounds. But Steve Bunce scored the fight a win for Joshua. GAD aka Gareth A. Davies, had it 5-4 AJ after nine rounds. And on and on. People who have been around boxing plenty long enough (too long) to know better. But they all want to keep riding the AJ gravy train.

A pathetic spectacle indeed.

[greeneye99]

Pointing finger is for the delusional and dishonest individuals like you. Be honest for once and look and listening around you wherever you come from. We all are partisan and biased to certain degree. If AJ were your favourite boxer your comment would have sounded differently.

BTW, what's your headache if someone wants to sympathiser with AJ and or show him some compassion? You are just hating for the sake of it.

Great Honest Post!
Everyone will show their biased/partisan towards their Fav Fighter at some point
But
Then there guys like one you responded to that will post in the comments Hate & Negativety just for the sake of it
#Somefans

[TheClap]

There was nothing real about it. If you look at how he tossed the belts over you can see hesitation just before he did. A man as impassioned as he made himself out to be wouldn't have tossed them with caution. Not to mention going away and making a dramatic U-turn to come back and say "sorry" when Usyk asked for his flag back. A man inflamed doesn't hold back. All that was AJ PR, just tangential to the usual but still as effective. The world remains naive.

[Bo Tae]

The article makes a good point: the reason why the British media is so biased towards AJ is because he brings in the money. He's broken PPV records in the UK, and revived mainstream interest in the heavyweight division. Many UK news outlets have profited from AJ, so they're biased towards him because that's what makes them money.

There is a line between bias and outright lying to the public, however.

And in the Usyk vs AJ rematch, it's hard not to feel that line was crossed.

Usyk was the sympathetic figure at the end, not AJ.

A guy who put it on a much bigger man, for the second time in a row, and still was being treated as an afterthought.

And I have no doubt if Usyk fights Fury, it will be the same thing all over again.

The Ukrainian's mental fortitude in these situations is truly admirable.

[PRINCEKOOL]

Agreed. Boxers are fighters, not gentlemen. If fans want sportsmanship, then go watch another sport.

However, I think a big reason for the hate is the cognitive dissonance. He's always presented himself as a nice guy, and that's what backfired. Nice guys are judged more harshly than bad boys for doing the same thing.

No, wrong again. Boxing is a gentlemen sport. The very nature of the sport, forces men to develop honor. Inside that ring is a honest place.

Why is Anthony Joshua not a nice guy? Is Tyson Fury not a nice guy? Are these bad men? Do you know each mans principles in life?

Again, I am amazed by this crap people are saying. Listen aAgger this is nothing personal, but you are trying your best to agree with me 'But I am still seeing a level of nonsense'.

Boxing is a sport, where two athletes enter into a arena 'And the other individuals aim is ultimately remove you from the ring with violence'. These men more times then not, still show respect to each other at the end of fights. Mike Tyson did so vs Lennox Lewis, and Anthony Josuha also do so vs Usyk 'Nobody is pointing that out'.

Yes fighters let the passion and frustration boil over. That does not make them bad people, have you got that? That is competition, that is passion.

I see more sportsmanship in boxing than other sports 'Lets not forget that'. Soccer players shake hands and walk off the pitch, fighters sit in each other's dressing rooms 'Mike Tyson was wiping the blood and sweat from Lennox Lewis's face, fighters embrace'.

Because at the end of the day, they know on a deep level 'That they may be enemies, but they are also brothers'.

In general I am just amazed, what I have read during the fall-out to this fight. I astonished how people have behaved, and disappointed in all the opportunistic weasels.

In the aftermath of the fight, people were gloating stating 'Finally his mask has slipped'.

No mate 'Your mask has slipped, you have all been exposed' For being opportunist.

Yes that is right.

[Clegg]

UK TV has been biased for years. We do have journalists who produce good articles, but on screen it's just an old boy's club who are friends with all the UK boxers and act like it. They don't outright cheer for the home guy (although I think Bellew did a while back?) but everything is presented almost from the POV of the British fighter: what his keys to victory are, what his strengths are, what he needs to be careful of.

I remember before Usyk-Bellew, virtually every UK guy said 'Yeah Usyk is great but Bellew has a great left hook so don't count him out'. Then in the fight Bellew didn't do much with his left hook but had some success with the counter right. So it showed they don't even get the technical observations right doing things this way.

Naz is one of the biggest names in UK boxing history. He can still talk a great game, I liked seeing him on ITV, but he was too critical of Eubank Jr so they never had him back. The fighters themselves dictate things because Eubank was also allowed to stop Groves from commentating on his fight with DeGale. Can't expect unbiased commentary when fighters have so much influence over what can be said about them and who can say it.