Problem with AJ's career

[Ray*]

I said this two years ago. Even the kilts fight I never thought they would put him in there. They didn’t protect him at all. His team deserves some part of the blame too. That’s why you are there to protect the fighter, they would want to move as quick as possible but you protect them against themselves.

Look at Fury, they made sure he learn properly before fighting Wlad, adversity in the McDermott fight, cunningham fight etc, Wilder like you mentioned as well.

I said winning that belt of Martin would be his downfall. And taking this rematch would end it all. He needs to go on a steady fight build. This is why I never gave him a chance against Wilder or Fury. And the reason why I was shocked at the way some avoided him for huge paydays.

[MDPopescu]

Your right about that but I think one of those guys ( I lean towards Hill ) would be of tremendous help to him
Manny didn’t have that much time with Stevenson , it was pretty Hill and he turned out ok
Let alone all ducking bullchit and what not , the guy was a pretty good fighter
Before that , he had no defence what so ever
Joshua , imo , needs a whole makeover especially after hearing about the sports psychologist and stuff

... in fact, you ask that he should move in the U.S., tbh... Hearn will not let him...

(as about a "sports psychologist" -- he hired one of those, already... with little success, as it seems...)

[Ray*]

The mad thing is that, he knows he’s learning on the job. Hearn knows he’s learning on the job. Yet they allowed the desire for money lure them out and got in the mix with people who have more experience than him. It’s why I wasn’t too keen when Wilder started chasing him around two years ago.

Greed destroyed Eddie. You know your boxer struggles with short guys and he’s not that fast. But you decided to feed him the shortest guy you can find with the fastest hands in the heavyweight division with granite chin who can box, lol. Talk about feeling yourself too much and sabotaging everything.

This might be the blessing in disguise and reality check that he needs. He needs to run the belts back and perhaps move to the US without funfair and build his career back up from there.

Hearn doesn’t manage him. Hearn promotes him, Joshua has his own management team, I know Hearn has tried talking him out of so many fights that he ended up taking.

I think he should skip the rematch, and go back to the basic learning of the fundamentals. They rushed his career too much. This loss was a blessing in disguise for him.

You could tell he has never experienced what happened to him on that day before, compare that to Ruiz who also was visibly hurt in the KD but knew what to do thereafter. When you have a limited amateur pedigree like Joshua had then the usual route should be the Wilder route.

Protect him from himself.

[Blackclouds]

Problem with AJ career is that they moved him too fast. Wilder had 40 plus Pro fights in obscurity for him to quietly learn against bums and veterans for 10 plus years as a Pro. He had shaky situations, suffered knock downs (Nichols, Sconiers), and learned how to survive and deal with them. Those fights toughen you.

AJ started boxing late and was pushed to become champion at like 16-17 fights. And had only boxed pro for less than 5 years. That's not enough time. Also, once you become champ, all limelights and pressure is on you and you have to worry about looking good and not losing. It's not as easy to learn anymore.

After the Klitschko fight, AJ should have had at least another 4-5 fights against people like Szpilka, Duhaupas, Arreola, Jennings, etc, before stepping up against Prime champion level fighters like Parker and Ruiz. Should have fought a few gatekeepers that would test him, but won't hurt him too bad.

Instead they rushed AJ. He was lucky to get past Whyte(torn shoulder), Klitschko(old), and Parker (ref saved AJ). But his lack of experience and survival skill finally got exposed against the Mexican Ruiz.

AJ needs another 7-8 fights against lower opposition, and 4-5 years to rebuild and learn, before he even thinks about fighting Wilder, if he's serious about having a chance to win.

Casual fans and fanboys do not respect the sport of boxing so that means they do not respect the development process of a boxer. It is what it is, and AJ in interviews kept alluding to this like Wilder had this unfair experience advantage. AJ and his team were trying to develop him while he's holding belts but they could not have it both ways.

[MulaKO]

... in fact, you ask that he should move in the U.S., tbh... Hearn will not let him...

(as about a "sports psychologist" -- he hired one of those, already... with little success, as it seems...)

Well , it’s time for Joshua to stand on his own two feet
He needs to start worrying about himself
He’s gotta do what’s best for him first , then his family and lastly his career
While I’m saying this though , this doesn’t mean that he’s fixed , far from it , it’ll be an every day fight until he feels he’s ready
Imo , I think he’s a very damaged man at the moment
I hope for his sake he can come back stronger
Maybe everyday life but I doubt boxing wise
At fights end he looked relieved that this circus was over
His body language said it all

[Rayzah]

AJ is Frank Bruno 2.0

[JakeTheBoxer]

He was Hearn`s cash cow for big fights, I don`t think he can afford fight guys like Szpilka in small obscure places, when he is supposed to fight Fury or Wilder on Wembley.

It all depends on a rematch for him. If he losses, he is pretty much done. If he wins, he still has all chances to be N. 1 in the world.

[Fanofreason]

AJ need to leave Hearn.

Hearn writing check with his mouth that’s AJ couldn’t cash.

[BangEM]

... in fact, you ask that he should move in the U.S., tbh... Hearn will not let him...

(as about a "sports psychologist" -- he hired one of those, already... with little success, as it seems...)

**** what Hearn wants to do. He needs to do it for his career and legacy.

Get in there with Sugar Hill and build it back up slowly. But before that, he needs to run it back and get the belts off Ruiz.

If he can beat Ruiz in the rematch, he shouldn’t have a problem beating Pulev. Then he can start fighting 3 times a year. But I’d suggest he takes the WBA mandatory with Charr or Trevor Bryan before anyone from the WBO.

[BangEM]

I said this two years ago. Even the kilts fight I never thought they would put him in there. They didn’t protect him at all. His team deserves some part of the blame too. That’s why you are there to protect the fighter, they would want to move as quick as possible but you protect them against themselves.

Look at Fury, they made sure he learn properly before fighting Wlad, adversity in the McDermott fight, cunningham fight etc, Wilder like you mentioned as well.

I said winning that belt of Martin would be his downfall. And taking this rematch would end it all. He needs to go on a steady fight build. This is why I never gave him a chance against Wilder or Fury. And the reason why I was shocked at the way some avoided him for huge paydays.

That’s what you get when you have a bunch of young rich white kids managing your career. Boxing isn’t about muscles.

How old is the Freddie Cunningham guy? I doubt he’s older than 26.