AJ should not be trying to box a boxer

Joshua has changed since the Wlad fight, as another poster stated. It changed him tactically, which, to be honest, probably wasn't all bad. He became less exciting, but he did become a more rounded and more thinking fighter. After the Ruiz defeat, he went further down this route, but it went from a largely positive change to a largely negative change. It worked well in the Ruiz rematch. He was facing a much shorter, quick handed fighter who would throw when Joshua threw. The tactics were dull from an action standpoint, but they were effective for what was In front of him. Obviously, Ruiz living on a diet of burritos and burgers since the first fight played a big part in Joshua's tactics working. These tactics, however, just aren't good enough against a fighter of Usyk's abilities.

Added to this, is the changes it has had to Joshua's mindset and confidence. Terms like "xx took away his soul" get bandied about too much, but damage was done to Joshua's psyche during the Wlad, and particularly Ruiz 1 fight. He has become too tentative and lacks any confidence and urgency during difficult moments in fights, as we saw this past weekend.

As for his tactics during the Usyk fight, they were too simplistic and not comprehensive enough. Joshua of old, moving forward smartly behind a stiff jab is what was needed in places. Throw feints, add some head movement, to break up Usyk's rhythm, and when able to, throw some combinations. If he needed a breather (as obviously he doesn't have the best gas tank), get on the back foot like he did against Ruiz in the rematch. Bellew shown early on in his fight with Usyk that you can frustrate him some what and break up his rhythm on the back foot.

Joshua seemed to be caught in some largely ineffective no man's land between these two tactics; for large parts of the fight he was stood still, flat footed, not throwing any feints, and he was just pawing out the jab and occasionally throwing a tentative right hand. For a fighter of Usyk's skillset and high ring IQ, this is bread and butter for him. Ultimately, Joshua was too predictable. He employed the same tactics from round 1 to 12. He didn't even push the issue as the fight went on. Obviously, if plan A isn't working, go to plan B. If you don't have a plan B, at the very least, try plan A but more so. It's better than doing the same thing at the same pace over and over again. One of the worst things you can do against a highly skilled and high IQ fighter is to be predictable.

Having a basic game plan and not switching things up from round 1-12 were Joshua's undoing. He was fighting a guy with a world class skill set, world class ring IQ and a world class gas tank. By being basic and predictable he allowed Usyk to quickly get a read on him, and he allowed Usyk to dictate the pace.

 

I don't know what AJ does in a rematch. AJ isn't outboxing Usyk, we saw that Saturday night, boxing isn't going to win a rematch.

If he comes in heavier, tries to bully Usyk and don't get Usyk out of there inside 5-6... he gasses and gets stopped.

If he comes in the same weight and tries to press the fight earlier, tries to bully and with more intensity and Usyk is still there after 5-6... he gasses and gets stopped.

I just don't see a way AJ beats Usyk, AJ landed a perfect right hand during the fight and Usyk didn't flinch, so the idea AJ just has to land something is a myth.

Sometimes fighters find a fighter that doesn't suit them, they just haven't got the attributes to beat them and AJ has found his.

Usyk is just too good at what he does.

 

You’re probably 100% right. All I wanna see in the rematch is him try something different though, don’t just box and try to survive - take a risk or 2.

 

100%, try something different at least though - Usyk’s weakness at the weight is that I don’t think he hits hard even if there is an accumulation affect. AJ has to try and land something big at all costs, then you just never know.

 

Yeah I mean AJ has to do something different, very different.

The problem is, Usyk hurt AJ in the third, hurt him a few times actually and had AJ clinging on in the final round..

So much so AJ went back to his corner, slumped on his stool and didn't get up until the decision was announced.. AJ was done.

So AJ can't just steam in, Usyks timing, countering ability, combined with his decent power spells danger if AJ just tries to bully and steam forward.

Also, probably the most impressive thing was Usyks footwork, AJ has to try and pin him down to land something big.

We saw Usyk spin, turn, pivot off and counter and AJ was left standing there looking a little slow and he came in very light, so imagine the speed of foot after 3-4 rounds if AJ comes in Heavier.

This is a real puzzle for AJ and McCracken, a really difficult rematch, a rematch I think he has no choice but to take but in an ideal world AJ could go in another direction.

 

Yep. He's got a bit of an identity crisis. Caught between styles. He's also aware now he's not invincible. He's in his own head.

He can beat Usyk. But he's going to have to find his balls again.

 

Doesn't he realize how ridiculous it sounds? Olympic gold medalist, 2 time unified champion with 8 defenses, much touted "deepest resume in the division", yet he is "still learning".