A.Joshua addresses his "new" team

AJ zero chance in a fight with Usyk is ridiculous. He's absolutely a live fighter in this.

Usyk is going to taste a heavyweight hit properly at some point, I'm not convinced he can stand an onslaught if / when he gets clipped. He's been dancing around using his abilities so far, but if it gets ugly he is in trouble absolutely.

 

How about 3 good Joshua-right-hands?

 

Refusing a dish offered by someone is considered very rude in Ukranian culture.

 

Nothing new here really.

 

Marcus Antonius What do you think?

 

AJ is so so wrong. McCracken knows his stuff. He's seen Usyk before in the amateurs, he knows his strengths and weaknesses. He is extremely experienced and it will be hard to find someone who can match what McCracken brings.

And the reality is that the strategy was broadly right against Usyk. Joshua needs to build on the first fight, make a few tweaks and he'll be more competitive. But he won't ever beat Usyk because Usyk is all wrong for him. But if he wins a round or two more, the judges will probably give him the nod.

People say he should come forward and take far more risks like against Klitschko. But Klitschko and Usyk are completely different fighters. Usyk has a great chin so coming forward will play into Usyk's game if anything and will end up leaving Joshua in the firing line from Usyk's accurate counters. Klitschko always had a shaky chin so AJ taking more risks worked in that fight. It won't work here. Coming forward exposes AJ's stiffness, something McCracken did a good job of covering up in the first fight.

AJ will regret this decision I think.

 

I agree about McCracken being a basic ABC trainer. I saw him really **** up Howard Eastman who was a world class talent without a world class team. Lloyd Honeyghan broke it down accurately in Boxing News before Eastman fought Hopkins in challenging for the world title. He questioned what McCracken was able to teach Eastman and that while Eastman had real talent the lack of know how he and his corner did not have would be his downfall against Hopkins. AJ has good fundamentals and is a quick study who adapts quickly but the biggest issue for me has been his training team led by McCracken. Yes the introduction of Angel Hernandez and Joby Clayton have improved his boxing ability but that does not hide the deficiencies in overall strategy led by McCracken. The Papachenko Ukrainian style excellent as it is can be beaten and is no match for the old school trainers from the mid-west such as the grand wizards of Michigan, the Mexican expert tuition of the Reynoso’s , Derrick James and the likes. What was worrying is that McCracken had no clue what to do or change.

 

AJ cannot regret any decision

He isn't going to outbox Usyk tit for tat. Nothing to lose, just don't plod forward stupidly early.

He has to pick his moments to do damage when he lands his power punches & make Usyk shell up or go defensive.

AJ is a big man, he knows more often than not when he lands a heavy punch his opponent will be hurt.. When he did it against Usyk he kept his distance let Usyk reset and compose himself. He can't do that!

Usyk cannot risk trading punches. AJ has to risk trading punches.

 

His jab can still be improved to unleash his devastating right hand and hook off the jab.

 

Plenty a round. Terrible Tim Witherspoon would do wonders for AJ.

 

No he won’t McCracken is not that great and has always been overrated.

 

Guys like Wilder/AJ can only rely on their punchers chance especially against significantly better boxers.

AJ changing teams, wearing spandex and putting on makeup isn't really making a difference.