Yes, even if he loses vs Usyk again, no shame in that. He's still a strong candidate for #3, and if Usyk retires at 36, then Joshua will be well in line for a shot. You don't ****ing retire just because you're not #1. He's beaten everyone he's fought besides Usyk.
He's been a good titlist but I don't think he'll ever be no 1 in the division again. Anything can happen at heavyweight but reckon it's a slim possibility
It seems that they're already locked in to a rematch with Usyk, with nothing in between. I can't see a scenario where Joshua beats Usyk, save for some 'lucky' circumstances like an injury, cut, a very lucky 'puncher's chance' punch ... nothing to be proud of anyhow. The main thing that came across in the Usyk fight was not domination in the common sense - as in, repeated knockdowns to an eventual stoppage - but 'levels'. Even the most casual fan could see that there were levels in the skillgap between them, even if they misunderstood it and took it to simply be a 'bad gameplan' from AJ. The Ruiz fight was quite different. Joshua was having success through most of the first fight even when he was fighting carelessly, and even after the third round just by staying on the end of a nothing jab. Its the damage he took from Ruiz's close range combinations - that Joshua should never have been vulnerable to - that changed the fight. It was clear as day what he had to do to change: use that colossal reach and height advantage, and massive mobility advantage, to stay outside and rack up points. There's a reason why he was such a huge favourite in the first fight: nobody could see a way for him to lose. With Usyk ... what can he do? The hot take is 'be more aggressive', but I'm quite confident he would have wanted to do that in the first fight and it was Usyk's plan, perfectly executed, to neutralise that. Some are suggesting he should just brawl like Chisora did, but that only works for Chisora because he's happy and able to take leather all night. It seems that Joshua, 31, has 6 months to add levels to his technical ability and ring IQ. I just can't see this happening. If anybody, Usyk should be the one expected to improve the most for the rematch now he's shook off his ring rust and has done 12 with the champ. If Joshua wants to bounce back, the best thing for him is to avoid the rematch, find some slightly lower level fights that people are interested in: Whyte 2 would be good, as would be a Wilder fight if Fury wins. Regain some confidence, grow some more ring experience, regenerate his draw and reputation.
AJ has solid basic skills but he lacks the mental toughness when things go wrong inside the ring. I would love to see him back but not with USYK right away because that would kill his fragile mind. AJ did some of his best body work on USYK but would not stay committed to the body. AJ needs a confidence booster fight first!!!
He used alot more lateral movement against Wlad, and Povetkin. On the outside , jabbing from range. Seemed to abandoned it against Usyk, just stood in front of him, and tried to jab his way in. Usyk just wouldn't stop throwing.
I get the feeling it’s his promotion and team who are desperate to make the rematch ASAP because if he delays he risks being frozen out of the belt picture altogether.
AJ has the physical attributes to give Usyk a tougher fight next time round and he doesn't have to become an Usyk-tier master technician to do it. The problem is the psychological advantage which many suspected Usyk had going into the first fight is now an absolute chasm for a confidence-fighter like AJ. Does AJ believe in his ability? Does AJ have the will to win? is he being motivated by the sport and the glory or by money? AJ lost faith in his ability to score dominant knock-outs against elite fighters after Ruiz I, it appears to me there is a strong chance that his belief in his boxing ability, at least in the ring with someone of Usyk's calibre, is now shot as well. Usyk on the other hand already had no fear and will feel even more confident in the second fight.
