Heavyweight Boxing

This is a Joshua who fought off the back foot against Carlos Takam of all people. I really can't fathom why anyone would think he'd come out like some slugger against Usyk. There's a misconception about what kind of fighter he is maybe. He's not been that kind of fighter since British level really and for good reason.

Resorted to it in a moment of madness against Wlad, gassed out a round later, got dropped and was extremely lucky that Wlad let him off the hook.

Showed no respect to Andy Ruiz and let his hands go recklessly and got beat up as a result. Ruiz is not a puncher either.

He's not beating a guy of Usyk's class no matter what the tactics. Maybe he gives himself the slimmest of chances by trying to take him out in the first couple of rounds but I'd be extremely confident it'd be Joshua that ends up getting stopped in that scenario. Doesn’t have quick enough feet to walk Usyk down, and has never in his career shown the ability to grapple or lean on an opponent inside like Fury does for example. Usyk would keep turning him and pick him apart before Joshua gases out. I said before the fight that Joshua couldn't pin Joseph Parker down, good luck trying to pin Usyk down.

There's just a solid level or two between them realistically but for Joshua to win rounds, be largely competitive and to go the distance with someone of the class of a Usyk was impressive to me anyway.

I think Wlad pulled the trigger (punch count) as much, or at least quite close in 2015 as 2017

Well that was certainly a commanding performance from Usyk and he silenced the doubters emphatically. From the off his movement was superior and his vast experience shone through. Usyk did reference Haye's win over Valuev beforehand and the same happened here as he was able to outmove Joshua and ultimately outbox him. The first rounds set the tone as Usyk stood his ground and was aggressive to the head and body and then as it went on Joshua's stamina was suspect and he had too much ground to make up. The last seconds of the fight Usyk was trying to get him out of there! As mentioned his corner didnt help and honestly think he needs to switch to an American trainer.

Its the right thing to do to go straight into the rematch as per the contract but like Fury Wilder 3 cant see any difference in the result. Gulf was there for all to see.

Thought the crowd did the home town fighter no favours. Lots of rounds fought in silence when maybe getting behind him might have helped.

Lastly good to see the respect between these two likeable fighters.

Pretty much everything said here

And yes, no need for a slugger approach. Simple: quit the tip tapping BS and give it a fooking go. If you lose, so be it, but at least you gave it a go.

Anyone looking at AJs showing the other night and not seeing clear issues/areas that need addressing, I don't know what to say here...!

Haha, i like whyte, no filter, he is what he is, he was always on about aj being manufactured and behind it all ajs not a nice guy. Hard not to like whyte.

Yeah was poor to watch, fury didnt land any major amount clean, but landed alot more than a scared wlad.

I think a fight against Whyte would sell pretty well in the UK and would be less risky than the rematch.

Still a KO risk, and he already KO'd Whyte. Please, spare us....

I see no real benefit in wasting time with this type fight. Happens when? Spring to summer 2022? Then another 6-9 months at least to a Usyk rematch?

Wilder/Fury or Usyk next is the best for AJ and the best for us

Just thinking here lads would someone like Lennox Lewis not be a good option to come in and show Joshua how to box like a big man?

I know Joshua is not in Lewis's league ability wise but surely he could teach him a few things and get him mentally tougher and maybe improve him a bit the same way Manny Stewart improved Lewis.

It really would be terrible for his legacy to dodge fights, it would have been blatantly obvious and he would never leave it down, do the -rematch, get bet again, just acknowledge how good usyk is and move on, reckon usyk wont stay too long, talks about family alot. He has done it all.

Don't they hate each other or something ?

Mad how right now its Mannys nephew that's teaching Fury how fight like a big man & Fury he already has the boxing ability to fall back on ,

drop the belt and do what though? fight fury? i suppose he makes more money but it would be a bigger beat down.

Wouldn't surprise me if he decides to take a warm up fight instead of the rematch & hopes some else takes care of Usyk ,Very hard to duck the fight as champion but now he can say he needs one fight to get the fire back or some other bullsh*t

Losing to Usyk twice in a row could be really really damaging , he'd be completely out of titles shots for maybe 2 years depending on how the other fights go,

It is funny when the A-side thinks they're being clever putting an immediate rematch clause in the contract only to realise they've now backed themselves into a corner and have no way clear way out of a rematch they won't win. Should’ve just left it as a standard mandatory, taken the loss and rebuilt from elsewhere.

Hard to know where either fighters head is really at but can't pick against Fury. Think he might do it lop-sided on points this time.

Fury > Usyk >>>>Wilder >> Joshua