AJ - Can he come back from a loss? or is he now Micheal Grant

I see at the moment AJ more like Barry McCuigan after the Steve Cruz fight in Las
Vegas or has AJ has already reached his Mount Everest moment with the
Klitschko fight like Hatton said after beating Tszyu and the hunger never the same.

 

Honestly, I think Joshua will come back and KO him without much trouble. I still also favour him over Wilder. The only thing that has changed is Joshua no longer has the invincible aura and reputation about him, that and he suffered quite an embarrassing defeat. The truth is though, love him or hate him (I'm closer to the latter...lol) - he is still a quality boxer.

 

As long as he comes back confident, fresh and hungry and has worked on his weaknesses then yes!

Boxers are so concerned about that 0, however how can you learn from your mistakes if you do not lose? I think he needs to continue his crusade in the US to build that confidence of fighting abroad and stop using Wembley as his safety net. Come out of that comfort zone and reach higher.

If his confidence is knocked though like David Price then I think it could be a career killer.

 

He may KO Wilder because Wilder has been wobbled by lesser fighters. I think he will lose to Ruiz again. Just a poor style matchup honestly. Iron chinned fighter who can crack.

 

He could come back...all jokes aside he is a talented guy, but mentally he isn't built like most fighters. The sense of urgency, the impression that I'm fighting for my life...my livelihood, he like most normal people understands that this isn't his life and while it's the smart, well adjusted way of viewing things I think it's detrimental as a fighter. Most people who are truly elite at anything, chances are they are probably psychotic, you almost have to be. AJ doesn't seem that way to me...time will tell I suppose, I'll be pulling for him.

 

No he's done.

He's playing the game as he has so many endorsement contracts that are hanging in the balance. If he can't take Ruiz shot's then he certainly can't take Wilders and he isnt a good enough boxer to avoid them. Fury would break him in the build up. Look how much he changed after Wlad and that was one KD not 4.

He may have a few "rebuilds" in the O2 against bums just to see out his contractual obligations for endorsements or with Sky but he's not going near the top of the food chain again and certainly nowhere near America. This is Eddie and Barry's last chance at saving their golden goose and they will never ever give any advantage away again.

 

Here's how it's going to play out.

You have to keep in mind that fighting the best was never a priority for MR, fleecing fans for the seven-year plan was. As such, there will now be a new novel way to continue this under the guise of "The Big Rebuild". McKracken will be replaced. Hearn will let the rematch go but of course still gob off to iFL that he was screwed over in some way, then they will announce the rebuild bum fights at the 02. In reality, these will be AJ's last fights of course. There will be one every 6 months, each time AJ will be "improving" and "ready" for Fury or Wilder. All the time there will be some spanner in the works or "contractual" reason why AJ can't fight anyone of real threat. AJ retires POSSIBLY by fighting one of the big 2 or 3.

As it stands, there is still some money to be rung out of gullible fans via the rebuild and continue the plan albeit with poorer numbers than before. However, a rematch in November with Haymon having a look in and without Eddie being able to nobble the judges literally makes no sense as Joshua getting beating again would mean that he's unequivocally finished as would be Sky's deal with MR.

 

Joshua got beat and embarrassed like Lacy did against Calzage. Fair exchange ain't no robbery.

 

Manny Pacquiao has the best approach to a loss. He keeps it really simple. Takes responsibility i.e. i made a mistake, this is boxing and getting knocked out is part of the sport, i wont let it happen again and proceeds to the next fight without over thinking it.

 

He'll come back but he's work be the same.

 

I think y'all are being too hard on him. Plenty of people have gotten knocked out and not been ruined. He didn't take a life-altering beating the way Lacy did, and he's a better fighter than Grant ever was.

He still could beat Wilder, though I'll concede he probably has no more than a hail mary chance against Fury. They need to avoid that matchup at all costs. I think he can defeat Ruiz in the rematch, but it might have to be negative and ugly.

 

There is zero chance he beats Wilder or Fury, Wilder will send his head into the cheap seats, Fury will collapse him inside the distance.
Lewis and WK had bad chins but AJ is worse than glass, he literally was rocked.stumbled/stunned/knocked down by grazing shots and Ruiz is by no means a banger, not even close.

AJ cannot take the heat, he folds when pressured......he will get stopped again once he steps up. Ruiz will stop him quicker if AJ takes the rematch.

Boxing is 80 % and 20 % physical...........AJ 's confidence and self believe is totally shot and his body is not cut out for viscous combat, cannot get enough oxygen in..........that stuff cannot be trained, you either have or you dont.

 

He'll need to implement a completely different style because everyone is going to come for his chin and durability now. The heavyweights are filled with guys willing to take shots to land their own. Think about wilder if they fought, He's just gonna swing away, even Fury who's normally content to simply box, is gonna figure if he actually presses he may stop him.

Joshua is definitely still a top 10 even 5 guy...............but the blueprint has been drafted.