Comments Thread For: Warrior Spirit: Daniel Dubois sends Anthony Joshua a step closer to the garden

[Wacked_Out]

The reality is that from a physical sense AJ entered boxing late as a big genetically blessed guy - he is very athletic and probably could've plied his trade at various other sports as an athlete. However its clear to see he hasn't learnt or acquired those attributes that are required by top fighters; he is just lacking the key instincts of a fighter at the highest level.

From a mental sense AJ entered boxing as a bully. AJ or "Big Femi" as he was known on the roads was a horrible piece or work - beating on people smaller than him, getting into fights and selling drugs; those experiences crafted the man he is today. He has an INCREDIBLE ego from years of people blowing smoke up his a$$ as well as the clever matchmaking and the riches he's gained. It's fair to say AJ is detached from reality. In his mind I think his size and sheer physicality affords him a false sense of security. He just doesn't know how to process adversity so he unfolds in dramatic fashion. AJ is so used to getting things his own way as a bully type character that when he is not allowed that luxury he has literally no clue of how to deal with it - case in point being his ridiculous reaction to the Usyk rematch loss where he fully threw his toys out of the pram.

I would tend to agree. If the article says the what, you're saying the why, Both make up the whole of it. AJ was never really a great boxer. After he got beat by a smaller chubby dude with skills he was less aggressive, (bad for a bully) lost to another little guy twice, lost his mind, and never became a better boxer.
He was closer to Wilder than people want to admit in terms of skills

[MastaBlasta]

Some observations: Jarrell Miller fought both Dubois and Ruiz better than Joshua did. He should have gotten the win against Ruiz, and he lasted to the last seconds of the ten rounder with Dubois (in a pretty ferocious fight by both). If Joshua continues I think that is the fight to be made. Bad blood but it turns out that the skills are probably closer than anyone would ever admit ... until now. A case can be made that Miller was more effective against both Ruiz and Dubois (AJ's 2nd Ruiz fight doesn't count .... Ruiz didn't show up and AJ ran all night).

Yeah, there's a lot of bad blood there. That's just why it should happen ... assuming Joshua recovers okay from the Dubois fight and wants to continue at a top ten level. The Wilder fight is probably useless at this point. Wilder is nowhere near his previous form after Fury III. I don't think WIlder should be fighting anymore honestly. Hopefully AJ recovers with no excessive head injuries and wants to compete at that level.

The Dubois fight was epic. I wish AJ had gotten off a lot sooner and stayed safer. He talked a lot of aggression leading up to the fight, but we didn't see much after Dubois's big right in the 1st. When AJ rocked him in round five we almost got the fight I was hoping for. AJ rushed in and was careless and got caught bad. It happens. Very unfortunate moment. I wish he had taken his time and built on that punch, but ....

Make no mistake Joshua has been a beast during his run and earned his place. But hearn failing to make the big fights (and let the chips fall as they may) I think stifled Joshua in many ways. He never had any dogfights (Wlad was old and on the way out). Dubois however has been in many dogfights (including the Joyce fight). He now is very comfortable operating in them.

This fight shows what we missed as hearn played duck'em and A-side with all the rematch, multiple fight demands on other elite fighters (during Joshua's reign as champ). He may or may not have been as successful, but I think he would have gotten comfortable in dogfights with his guys at the top. Probably would have made even more money if certain fights could have been made. All that A-side nonsense negatively affected fights AJ should have had, even some he did have. hearn did AJ and the fans a disservice with all the BS. I think the Joshua we see now is the evidence of that.

[57Blues]

It was one of the great nights in British boxing.

compleatly enjoyable ............Josh in another New York state of mind performances.........

[BrankoB]

It seems there are a lot of people who are AJ fans and are refusing to accept what happened yesterday. I did not have a horse in the race and watched the fight for the pure pleasure and excitement of watching a fight. I did not really know who would win. However, there were no fine margins in that fight - it was as one sided as it gets.

Joshua was brutalized, outgunned, outfought and embarrassed by the young Daniel. I was shocked at how one sided beating it was. I expected a much tougher, closer, give and take fight, much like Daniels previous fight with Hrgovic with momentum changing and then ultimately someone prevails and wins by a KO.

I am not sure how Joshua can improve his chin for a rematch because he literally could not take any of Daniels punches. Everything was hurting him, even the jabs. He may be Ok to fight Wilder now, but he should not go back in the ring with Daniel because Daniel has Joshua's number.

[True That]

Retirement Calls, it is over for AJ contending against top tier Heavyweights, hang ‘em up.

[thack]

At this stage I doubt horseshoes in the gloves would do the trick , he was never that good , just matched really well. A prime Wilder would have iced this clown in no time at all. Hearn saying he's up there with the past greats ...lol .. these are really looking s-tupid now and lets face it, he was demolished by Danny boy who is okay but no world shaker.

[VislorTurlough]

A career built on beating Charles Martin and barely getting by a retired Klitschko. It’s all been a ruse, easily sold to nation desperate for sporting heroes after generations of failure on the national stage. His big win over faded Klit was akin to Oliver McCall outpointing a legend Larry Holmes, and nearly as good. The rest is a parade of bollocks, 1 quality win over decent but far from great Parker, and 4 humiliating defeats. This clown is Bonecrusher Smith level at best.

[thack]

A career built on beating Charles Martin and barely getting by a retired Klitschko. It’s all been a ruse, easily sold to nation desperate for sporting heroes after generations of failure on the national stage. His big win over faded Klit was akin to Oliver McCall outpointing a legend Larry Holmes, and nearly as good. The rest is a parade of bollocks, 1 quality win over decent but far from great Parker, and 4 humiliating defeats. This clown is Bonecrusher Smith level at best.

Bonecrusher would have iced him!

[Phase III]

Hearn will continue pimping Joshua and put him to work so he can continue lining his pockets. At this point it’s all about Hearn cashing out while AJ keeps taking more beatings until something serious happens to him. It’s impossible to compete at a high level when you have is a glass jaw, limited skills, and a very anemic boxing IQ. A punch will get you wins against C level fighters like he was fed in his rehabilitation tour. Have mercy on AJ Mr. Eddie Hearn. Stop feeding off AJ like a vulture because all that’s left is a carcass.

[pollywog]

This fight wasn't lost in the margins, it was lost in the bold print staring people in the face since Ruiz 1.

AJ had nowhere to run, no place to hide and no time to figure shït out.

He and Hearn need to read between the lines. There will be no Arabian nights fairytale ending for Princess Joshy.

Times up, the clock ticked midnight, Hearn turned into a rat and Joshy can't find his missing trainer.

One more dance with Doobie might see Joshua turn into a pumpkin head and no one wants to see that!