He had bruises and blotches all over his face this week from sparring. He accepted the loss so easily, seems to me like he'd already been humbled recently and wasn't totally shocked by outcome.
I just don’t think he cares that much, it’s a sport at the end of the day, people lose. Unless you’re an emotionally fragile human being I don’t understand why you’d be affected by losing a boxing match? I feel like I’m the odd one out though, even when I was competing at a high level in athletics I never got upset if I didn’t win, just enjoyed doing it. I’m sure people will think it’s strange that I can’t see why anyone would be upset by just not winning a boxing match. I just think on a list of priorities of things that you should care about or let effect your happiness, a ‘W’ or an ‘L’ on a sheet of paper about something you enjoy competing in is pretty low. Just seems so mad to me that people expect fighters or sportsmen to be upset if they lose, such a crazy mentality to me, it’s literally just a sport that you do because you enjoy it and it makes you money
Prize fighting in the HW division isnt just some guys having fun down at the rec center. There are millions of dollars at stake. And millions watching around the world. This is the night Joshua lost millions of dollars. And embarrassed himself against an obese man.
It's really just the fan boys that get themselves emotionally invested in a fighter, they take the loss the hardest. Personally tonight was an amazing night of boxing, because come on who doesn't like an upset victory and Ruiz deserved it 100%. I am however angry at the scoring for the KT fight.. either incompetent judges or more likely corruption. I feel sorry for the Belgian girl, she gave her all.
I think he thought when the ref asked if he's wanted to fight he thought the ref was challenging him, and he had been so emasculated he was scared to answer incase he slapped him around too.
If he doesn’t feel embarrassed then he isn’t embarrassed. Why on earth anyone would expect someone to be upset that they might earn 10 million instead of 20 million in the next 6 months is beyond me. Why would he be upset that he lost a fight? I honestly don’t get the thought process? Unless you attach your entire identity to that tiny aspect of your life why would not winning a boxing match make you upset? Seems bizarre.
I would be upset if I just lost 20 or 30 millions dollars. This loss could cost Joshua 100 million dollars in total career earnings.
Getting outclassed and badly concussed in front of millions of people isn't a whole lot of fun. I mean, I don't know first hand, but I've come to that conclusion from watching it happen to a lot of people over the years. I get what you're saying and I think your mindset is healthier than guys like Marvin Hagler or Dave Tiberi or Jeff Fenech or Bernard Hopkins, who get bent out of shape over a loss for the rest of their life. But even for the most well-adjusted person, losing the world heavyweight title in humiliating fashion is usually something that requires some time to recover from emotionally. I agree with the OP that Joshua did seem weirdly blase for a guy who just got his dreams crushed. If he really is this mellow all the time, then I envy his peace of mind
All this show of being humble is just a facade. Any fighter with ego and pride will be devestated by this loss. Any fighter who gets in the ring with AJ will be ten times bolder now. It is clear AJ's chin is glass and among his biggest vulnerability. You cannot lose fights at this level because of just momentary lapses in the ring. Heck Lennox Lewis took punches in the face and remained in control of fights throughout his career for most of his fights. AJ was just a hype train who got exposed tonight finally
I understand your point. I think it comes down to how individuals rationalise their own situation, maybe AJ doesn’t consider what happened to him humiliating? Some people are just more secure in their own being than others would be in the same situation. AJ’s baseline normal for the last decade has been being in the limelight in front of millions of people so he’s used to that. So for him losing a fight in front of those same millions would be like you or I falling over in the street and ending up with a drink all over us in front of a fairly big crowd. Some people would be embarrassed and want to curl up into a ball, others wouldn’t care and just laugh. I think some people really don’t like him and are annoyed that it hasn’t effected him the way they’d hoped, which I find funny.
It is true. I think the thing which bothers someone at this level is sometimes the money aspect goes out the window. Thomas Hearns said once after Barkley and before Kinchen, I have to get back to winning so I can make millions fighting Ray. In a way it is about money at this level. Losing? Everyone loses I never thought it was a big deal. Marvin Hagler's record had 2 losses and 2 draws when he won the title. Only a guy like Floyd orchestrates his wins so that he can live off that legacy.