***Joshua is mentally shot***

For sure. I did notice that Joshua was gunshy with his right. I know he wanted to pace himself but he rarely tried to counter or set anything up and he just stopped going to the body even after having a bit of success with that gameplan in the middle rounds. He was very vulnerable to Usyks left but that was never thrown to check Joshua's agression or anything. He didn't even try and fight Usyk in the pocket when Usyk jumped on him. Joshua isn't that good at infighting but he did show it against Klitschko, Whyte, and Takam in spots. I think he even unloaded shots against Parker on the inside early when Parker jumped on him.

In an absolute sense this was definitely the best version of Joshua and Usyk beats any version of Joshua, i was suprised his stamina lasted that long. He adjusted better than i thought he would at range. but i do think he could've tailored his style to do a little better for Usyk specifically.

Joshua should not take the rematch. He has to start from scratch and sack McCracken because this is different from Ruiz. Ruiz was getting outboxed and got knocked down before catching Joshua with a good shot. Usyk just totally outclassed him. He should seek a fight with the winner of Fury/Wilder. I'd give him a better chance against Fury than Usyk at this point provided Joshua tried to walk Fury down.

I saw his post fight interview. He was putting on a fake humble attitude. I could tell in his voice he was just mentally defeated. I know this loss struck him hard. Can't believe im saying this but i kind of feel bad for him.

 

As always a very astute assessment from you. Joshua clearly had a game plan to use his size and reach to keep the fight long and win from a distance, he never tried to make the fight rough and take it to the inside, probably because they didn't train that way in camp as they were clearly looking to win by controlling range and keeping it long.

Maybe we'll see a change in that regard in the rematch now they know they can't win this way. But I don't think McCracken really has the know how in regards to manhandling faster, smaller opponents. So I do think something needs to change, either get rid of McCracken or bring someone else alongside him to add to Joshua's repertoire. Joshua has shown he is capable of learning and adjusting and with the right coach he could very well become a fighter capable of negating some of Usyk's advantages. But that will take time as you say, as quick a learner as Joshua is, I don't think he can learn all that in a few months even with the right trainer.

 

The AJ dilemma, Aj doesnt know what he is because the two versions are both flawed.

Thre is the big pumped up aj that bullies people and comes for the KO but this AJ has a **** gas tank and looks frustrated at times even in his best wins vs Whyte and Klistchko he looked gassed and at moments frustrated. Aj probably realizes he is ****ed if he comes in like this because if he can't get the Ko early and the other guy makes him work Aj's tank will fail him and it will end badly.

Then there's the other AJ the one that comes in leaner to help his **** cardio but this AJ doesnt seem to carry the same power. And this Aj seems to think hes a boxer and hes really just trying to get 12 and get the W.

Now both versions of Aj have been defeated

 

240 lber with very low fat % anyway should have more power than 220 lber with low fat %.

Now: 1. Maybe Usyk is far better than we had assumed
2. Maybe A.J is worse than we had assumed.

Anyway, am Nistor had floored A.J.
Panda being huge underdog had spanked him and mopped with him floor. Panda is very good but fat and leg lazy boxer.
Pillow fisted 220 lber had outboxed and spanked 240 lbs killer A.J.

Whyte being athletic 252 lbs 32 y.o elephant had been ingnited like Christmas tree by 224 lbs 40 years 11 months old Povetkin's ghost with 1 punch( before covid version ).

 

Aj just isn't that great, he's a big dude with basic fundamentals and it's actually amazing he's made as much and is as big as he is. Usyk is also probably better than the average person realized because your average person doesn't watch Usyk.

Everyones gonna take Ajs lunch now

 

You're referring to Usyk vs Chisorsa? Styles make fights, triangle theories, etc...Hell, Usyk probably took Chisora lightly and danced and drank a liter of vodka in the company of various and sundry Ukranian hotties down to the club the night before.

Last night, those guys were nip and tuck most of the way through with Usyk opening it up a bit at the end. Joshua never gassed. Never looked close to going out and landed hurtful shots of his own. It looked like JMM vs Pac 2-3 in there. In aesthetic terms, I prefer a bit more brawling in my heavyweight Championships, but those guys looked peak performance to me and well matched. A great piece of boxing, imo.

I will agree with you that AJ's feefees have seemed more fragile than most fighters in times past, but that can work 2 ways; if he's the easily led type, his confidence can be rebuilt by somebody close that he believes in.

 

I don't think there's any need to pile in on Joshua and call him a fake or hype job.

It's been clear for a long time what he is - a good heavyweight in a rank average era. What happened last night against an ATG shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone.

The main reason some people thought Joshua would beat Usyk was his power, size and strength. Usyk might box well but AJ would eventually catch up with him was the perceived wisdom.

The problem with that analysis and what led me to back Usyk is that this 'seek and destroy' version of Joshua doesn't exist anymore and hasn't done for years.

I think he lost something in the ring with Klitschko, that real desire to go 'life and death' with an opponent. He's come close to saying as much himself and Ruiz marked the extinguishing of that flame.

He's become gunshy and instead evolved to become a tolerable boxer mover. Good enough to win the Ruiz rematch and belatedly stop the old gatekeeper Pulev, but well short of the skill and acumen to beat someone like Usyk.

Pre-Klitschko AJ would have flattened Pulev in 4-6 rounds max. It was that drawn out affair and the fact that AJ looked panicked and vulnerable when Pulev occasionally landed on him that convinced me we were witnessing Joshua's final chapters.

I'm not disrespecting the lad, he's had a great career and I suggest if anything he's been a bit of an overachiever. The Klitschko win was probably the highlight but it irrevocably changed him as a fighter and man. The path for his eventual demise was forged in his greatest moment, which is a bit weird but there you go.

 

He looks broken and exhausted probably by the endless hype train and hangers on.

 

The writing was on the wall during fight week , no confidence , very passive attuite. It was the same in the ring. Something happened as the fight closed in that made AJ realise he had made a mistake fighting Usyk.

 

Alright lets stop. Yes Joshua lost but to a former undisputed Cruiserweight champion. Even with this loss he still has a better resume that the alleged number 2 heavyweight Deontay Wilder. Fury now ranks above him in resume and Usyk as well but Joshua is still ahead of Wilder and Joshua is still a good fighter. Obviously not great but good.

 

He seems exhausted and disillusioned. Just going through the motions to please everyone else.

 

Nah he looks finished to be honest, although he's no Mike Tyson it reminds me in a way of the same media hype train when it came crashing down.

 

Still better than Wilder

 

Technically maybe but Wilder would be a stylistic nightmare for AJ. Wilder would definitely catch him at some point then it would be game over. I know that phrase gets banded around a lot but it really would happen in this case. AJ would have no answer to wild unorthodox swings from a bigger man.