I personally had my prediction at a Joshua UD. What the hell was the game plan? Did he not have a plan B if outboxing Usyk didn't work?
Well, AJ stripped some muscle, came in leaner and lighter and was thinking about his gas tank.. he was thinking about a long fight. But I think his main gameplan was use his size and reach, use the jab, pace himself and after a few rounds start sticking the right hand behind the jab.. Usyk ended that gameplan in about 15 seconds, he walked to the middle of the ring, didn't back up and smacked AJ with a straight left.. Usyks speed and movement completely changed AJs plan A, AJ had to try and go with him and then was working at a pace that didn't suit him and struggled for the first 4 rounds. To be fair, AJ had a good 5 and 6 but then Usyk just upped the pace again and took the gas out of AJ, AJ didn't have any more gears to go through and Usyk then went up another gear in the 12th and was unlucky not to get a stoppage. I really don't know what AJ can do in a rematch, what gameplan he can come with, I think Usyk is just a nightmare for him.
Joshua thought he can just jab and throw some occasional rights ....lmfao. Absolutely shocked by the speed, distance control and footwork of Usyk. Southpaw stance killed him. Usyk will probably stop him in the rematch. If Joshua wants to beat him he has to go for the KO like a complete lunatic and i doubt he has the will, grit and heart (and chin) to do that. No chance.
He tried to stay behind a jab and look to land a right straight but rarely threw it probably because he didn't want to gas. That's it. He didn't really move around and try and make Usyk for a counter, and he barely went to the body. He had success walking Usyk down and landing downstairs in 1 or 2 rounds then stopped even though he never got checked for it. Got befuddled by Usyk's feints and movement and had no almost no answers. Reminds me of when Holmes lost to Michael Spinks Joshua has low ring iq. He should just try and make a fight with the winner of Fury and Wildee because he stands no chance against Usyk in the rematch. I favor Usyk by stoppage
Am I the only one that thinks that his footwork declined in comparison to the Ruiz 2 and the Pulev fight? He was much more flat footed imo.
I was thinking the same thing. He was trying to outbox Usyk. He should've used his power and size advantages more. Where were the combinations? Either his trainer is terrible or he didn't follow the game plan
He was trying to be the bigger man and base his offense off the jab. But Usyk nailed him early and he became tentative again. The most worrying thing to me is that he wasn't really committing to his right hand. Same as Ruiz II. He has become an average right hand HW puncher, and that wasn't always the case.
God only know what he was thinking, but I said before the fight I don't think AJ knows what he is up against with Usyk. AJ was probably confused, in fairness how do you prepare for someone like Usyk?
