Can AJ Bounce Back??

AJ was in good condition, he didn't really start gassing until the 10th round. Fighting Usyk was very awkward for him, as a southpaw and also because of Usyk's constant movement early on, this was difficult for AJ to adjust to and I think in a rematch he will have a better idea of how to time Usyk. AJ lost his balance several times due to feet getting tangled, which is common against a southpaw, with Usyk's right front foot stepping around the left foot of AJ as AJ tried to back away he lost his balance. AJ started slow, then got into the fight into the middle rounds but then ultimately couldn't win the championship rounds due to fatigue and just being outworked. Good fight though. I thought AJ made some adjustments in the mid rounds, but he didn't start fast enough. I think he wasn't focused enough during his ring walk, like he was too into the crowd and atmosphere. Usyk was more dialed-in and ready to fight early on, and I think if AJ dedicates himself and prepares better he could do better in the rematch. But it will take a much better effort to AJ to beat Usyk. I think he is capable of doing it, but it won't be easy. He would have to truly dedicate himself in camp. One thing AJ did get going in the middle rounds was the jab and occasionally he would time Usyk and land big shots, and he did touch Usyk to the body but the body shots didn't seem to have much of an effect on Usyk. In the early rounds AJ's punches had nothing on then, his jab was merely tapping him, he wasn't putting his weight or full power into his shots. But as the fight went on he started loading up and fighting more in the pocket and landed some good shots, just not as many as Usyk.

 

He’s a walking L

I had a weird feeling he was gonna lose this one

 

It was an active 22 fight win streak Wlad who'd signed a 5 fight TV deal extension just before he lost to Fury.

Wlad did very well against Byrd both times but got KO'd by Sanders in 2. Tony Thompson gave Wlad a much more difficult fight than anticipated in the first but not the second. Ibragimov did better than most, Chagaev was pretty typical, Pianeta was a weak opponent.

On balance I don't think Wlad fared especially well against southpaws, if anything they gave him more problems than typical orthodox opponents. It's no surprise that Wlad would handle them better than AJ though as he had vastly more experience fighting and sparring them and he was a much smarter and more skilled boxer. Wlad would have a significantly better chance against Usyk than Vitali due to his speed, co-ordination and power advantages, greater experience and superior defence but it could go either way.