Joshua's strengths and weaknesses- IMO

Not sure if it's a stamina issue, gassing or whatever, but once he gets hit a few times he looks gone. No boxer enjoys getting hurt, but he really seems way too affected by just one or two punches for such a big lad. Against Whyte and Wlad, they couldn't bang him out when the opportunity presented itself. There's a moment in the Wlad fight where AJ falls backwards slightly onto the ropes and then bounces slowly back forward and he is proper gone. Eyes glazed, no idea where he is. But Wlad wasn't on top of him.

AJ admitted afterwards that he was telling Wlad in the ring that "you should have got me out" when he had the chance. And he was right. Superb how he hung in there, regained his form and then boom...

He comes out swinging like an animal again in the 11th and it stunned everyone, Wlad especially.

I think his strengths are greater than any weaknesses. Unless Fury returns fully fit, legal and focused, I don't see any of the others (except Wlad perhaps) beating him.

Actually, if Haye can also get himself properly fit, I wouldn't mind seeing that fight too. He has the power and the movement and can take a shot. But it's a long long time since Haye was properly fit.

Shame we will never see Fury vs Haye either. We all know why. But imagine that. Winner takes on AJ.

 

His biggest weakness like you said is stamina. Once that goes everything is ****. A fighter that is in phenomenal condition, Marciano for example, doesn't have to be the most brilliant fighter.

He needs to drop down to 230/235. His body can't handle all that muscle. Being 250 is overkill anyway. There is practically no difference between a 230 and a 250 fighter. Both hit like a ton of bricks.

 

Joshua is slow and has average power, but he uses his height well, has decent combinations and has heart. Overall I'd say he's a B grade heavyweight. Let's see if he improves.

Honestly, any B grade heavyweight should have beaten the corpse of Wlad.

 

AJ biggest weakness in my opinion is not inexperience, he has fought at Olympics and 19 pro fights are quite enough. His biggest weakness is his muscles. Those huge muscles will be his Achilles heel. He is overweight. He may look great for the beach or for school girls but those muscles are not buld for a fight.

I guess it is a mental thing so he cannot fix the problem with his muscles. He iwll get bigger and bigger. In my opinion it is mental weakness too. People obssessed with muscles and looks have mental problems. So one weakness leads to another one.

 

Norton was only 2 or 3 inches shorter and he weighed 40-45 lbs less in his prime. Weaver was about the same but shorter. He was noted for being a little overly muscular too.

Not everyone's the same. One 5'10 guy might barely go 3 rds at 210 lbs while a guy like Tyson can go the distance at 220. Its all genetics. I have no doubt Joshua's training is on point, he just needs to lose weight and increase some cardio. His stamina is not really a problem when fighting lower class opponents but when fighting guys who will take him to war he needs to have his stamina on point.

 

Strengths are pretty obvious, size, power, strength, good technique, disciplined in training.

As for weaknesses. While I think he movement is decent, it could do with improving. He's not light on his feet but he controls range quite well and knows to move laterally most of the time. But he does sometimes hold his feet too much leaving him a stationary target, it almost cost him the fight in the 6th when Wlad caught him with the right hand.

Defence needs improving. It's not horrible and he has improved it. He usually keeps his hands high now, before Whyte his right was at shoulder height or below, now he keeps it by his cheek ready to block a left hook. But he still drops his right when he punches and he doesn't move his head enough, but his ability to catch and deflect shots on his gloves makes that less necessary.

His stamina could be better. While I think he can go 12 rounds comfortably he does gas a bit when he ups his work rate when going for a KO. Joshua said it himself, he was tired in the 5th and that why he lost focus and was too stationary and got caught in the 6th. But he does recover well from these bursts of activity.

Chin is a weakness. While he doesn't have a glass chin, he can be hurt and dropped, fact is for most heavyweights chin is a weakness, these big men can crack. Unless you have a chin like Wach or Vitali then yes your chin is a weakness.

 

Well he's been remarkably successful so far considering. He must have a lot of other things going for him to make up for it.