AJ booted trainer McCracken, wants to be a "dog" against Usyk

That's the only way AJ has a chance against Usyk is to use his size. Finally AJ realzied that he must use his size and fight tall and maul and rough up smaller men.

 

Can't teach an old "dog" new tricks...boom tish...

But to be fair to AJ at least he has accepted that he has to change it up significantly to be able to wrest his titles back.

Whether he can execute a completely new and alien gameplan is going to come down to a few factors:-

• It's not natural to him, or he would have strayed off gameplan in the 1st fight and tried to rough up Usyk more - capitalise on the small successes he had to the body for example
• After Wlad and Ruiz, AJ's mentality seems to have taken the most of the brunt; to be a dog, you going to have to "take 2 to give 1" and that really doesn't seem like AJs bag at all
• His cardio is going to have to improve a LOT to execute well (unless it's be a dog for 4 rounds in hope of KO)

If I was AJ, I'd be looking for a tune-up or 2 to get accustomed to the new approach and build up some confidence.

A complete rebuild in 5-6 months is gonna be a tall order - it's not Ruiz he's got to face after all!

 

Hope he doesn't bulk back up and charge in. He'll likely get KTFO.

I thought he was on a decent trajectory with slimming down and boxing a bit more carefully. Imo what he lacked is the confidence to prosecute momentary advantages that his updated style/physique might provide over an expanded portion of the fight and the pure willful stubbornness to keep said confidence in the trenches when it's not working out. I think pure stubbornness doesn't necessarily give chin, but it makes you get up and get up and get up and believe that after doing down 2 or 3 times, you're still gonna' win. Can a coach/trainer instill that? Maybe, but the trainee would have to trust the coach implicitly. Would have to take his word as gospel.

 

If AJ fought like Fury did in the third fight v Wildder he`ll get countered all over the place, Fury was very sloppy and his strength and chin saved him.

 

To be fair, anyone would do a better job than McCracken.

 

At getting goshua brain damaged

 

Exactly.

You're not going to make AJ into a bigger equal of Usyk, nevermind a bigger superior, so you have to try something different.

Coming in similar weight probably makes sense for the gas tank, but with a more aggressive mindset.

It's possible (not sure how likely, but possible) that AJ hasn't truly bought into the more cautious approach from Ruiz 2 onwards, in the sense of believing it's what's required because that's what he's been told but not really feeling it, so going through the motions.
That may explain the lack of ability to change gears when opponent is hurt (Pulev) or change tack when it's not working (Usyk).

If he feels like embracing a more positive and aggressive approach is more suitable for him, then it might just improve him!
(It might still not be enough, but it's more likely to work than trying the same again).

 

Which is why Fury managed it?

It's hard to tell whether a fighter can make major adjustments like that...

If it's a fighter that trusts the trainer and has some natural aptitude for it then it's possible - and AJ arguably fits both (where Wilder, for example, is neither and that's why #3 was never likely to be different).

 

The difference is AJ appears to listen to his trainers, even if he shouldn't necessarily...
Wilder seems to only listen to yes men.

Sure, it's a big ask to change that fast - but it's an even bigger ask if you have no intention of listening.

 

This was Wilder's plan vs Fury.
Kamikadze vs boxer.

 

Agree. But Fury is wildly inconsistent. If he'd come into the 3rd fight in the shape he was in the3 second one I don't think it would have gone on that long. Usyk is very consistent. AJ would be taking a hell of a gamble imho.

 

Great post…