No Hearn pulled all the strings he humanly could to get Joshua a title shot again: after beating top 100 bricklayer Franklin, the chinny ghost of Helenius, Fury's leftovers Wallin and a MMA fighter, somehow Joshua got fast-tracked to a title shot. It was all lined up on a plate for him to become 3x world champion and he blew it, just like he blew his US debut against Andy Ruiz and the chance to become a name in America AJ is done now, at some point even casual fans are gonna get tired of seeing AJ being given opportunity after opportunity and choking every time
It would have to be against someone pretty toss though. I'd favour Parker, Zhang, Kabayal and maybe a couple of others to turn him over.
Really depends on why he lost. Did he really over look Dubois and again came in to a fight with the wrong mindset and simply under prepared, he did it before against Ruiz so wouldn't be a surprise if that was the case. But given how Dubois was coming off a good win and is a noted puncher that seems unlikely. Personally I think he's been mentally done since Usyk beat him the 2nd time. He used to be a fighter who simply tried to fight the best available then suddenly was fighting guys like Franklin, Wallin and Helenius, yes Whyte got done for doping but even Whyte is seen as washed up. Joshua now talks a lot about being a fighter is who he is, but I think he's trying to convince himself of that. He's not had the mentality of a championship calibre fighter since the Usyk losses. Even after the fight he said he was pissed off but didn't sound pissed off, sounded like he was resigned to the fact he wasn't good enough again. I don't think the hunger is there anymore, he's just going through the motions of being a fighter because that's all he knows how to do. I hope I am wrong but I suspect he's done at the top level.
I mean ... It's not impossible - especially if the belts get fractured - but I think it's unlikely. I also think there's A LOT of work to do with him, physically and mentally, which is kind of under played in the original post
Changing trainers is a bad idea at this point. But yes, he can still become champion, it seems he has a rematch clause and now they need to come with a financial number to satisfy Dubois. It will be a title fight, again a great oportunity for AJ.
Titles come and go, belts are just straps with buckles. But a champion's heart will never stop beating.
Completely true. The doctoral dissertation board were almost chuckling at Fury's weak use of analytical models in explaining the use of magnetohydrodynamics in current practice.
You don't magically improve "you mental side" aged 35, after 4 losses and a brutal KO loss face plant like that. It is what it is at this point. AJ should be retiring but there is a lot of greed around him and hangers on who want their piece of the pie.