If you were AJ, how would you approach the 2nd Usyk fight?

Backwards.

 

Only by lucky shot, which will come if someone is elusive and unpredictable and that is not AJ.

 

Although his stamina was better in the first fight, I would up the stamina. Be more aggressive by using a power jab when Usyk comes in and punch with Usyk. AJ doesn't have the footwork or foot speed to catch Usyk dipping to the side. He needs to catch Usyk coming in and when he is punching work when Usyk works.

 

Seems to be the message is rough Usyk up and don't box him. Usyk will be ready for any tactic and is too mobile to allow himself to be dirty boxed and rough housed up close but it looks like that will be the plan for the rematch to dominate Usyk physically, lean on him and get more shots off. Doubt it works or even Joshua can implement it.

 

His only legit alternate strategy IMO is to put it on Usyk, similar to what he did to Wlad in round 5, and hope he catches Usyk big

But this is easier said than done, given AJs other limitations - especially how getting tagged disrupts his flow and makes him cautious. He would have to adopt a "I'm going to take 2 to give you 1" type mentality and try and break Usyk down to the body from the start.

But the big risk there is not only getting badly countered, but gassing hard mid rounds and then getting stopped; I don't think AJ trusts his chin or legs enough to go that route, not after Wlad and Ruiz - and he tasted enough from Usyk to be deterred.

Personally I think AJ beats Usyk 1/100 due to a lucky punch - unless he drastically rethinks his whole approach, and takes damage to bust Usyk up and use his size advantage. Just not sure he can re-invent himself that way.

 

Im certain there won't be a rematch next or maybe even ever.

It kinda reminds me of when Froch and Bute were meant to have back to back fights , one in UK and second in Canada. But the pasting Bute got made the rematch completely pointless.

AJ will take a tune-up fight this year and then claim it will be their plan to target the rematch for next year. . Usyk says he wants time off so they use that as a type of get-out clause.

 

Dirty boxing, body shots, uppercuts and headbutts in clinches. It would help to have a small ring to make it harder for Usyk to stay away from Joshua. I stil would give very, very little chance to Joshua though. At his age, in 6 months he cannot transform into something else than he is.

 

I'm starting to get the same feeling.

But, in that case, short of a highly unlikely victory over Fury in 2022, Joshua's time vying for kingship of the division is about as finished as it would be if he gets slumped in a second fight with Usyk. I guess swerving the rematch can string the matter out and delay widespread acknowledgement of his relegation, perhaps squeeze more money out of his remaining time in boxing than he would if he goes the return bout route; but, reality is, without redemption over Usyk, there are at least two guys in the division over Joshua now, and his brand isn't built on settling for bronze. Skipping the rematch would be a floppy move at this stage of his career arc.

 

Put it all into the first four/five rounds, stop pretending he's a master boxer, and try and stop Usyk; and accept the risk that in failing to do so he WILL be stopped in the latter rounds. Problem is, AJ is gun shy - he wants to let his hands go but simply cannot because he knows his chin and stamina are sub par. That's not just an Usyk thing, AJ was worried about letting his hands go for four rounds after hurting Pulev and hardly did so against Ruiz in the rematch either. The trend has been evident for a long time.

But if he can rediscover the mentality he took into fights before Wlad chin-checked him, he has the arsenal to stop Usyk - but it's a long time since we've seen that version and I'm not sure it exists anymore. Also, AJ has to set his feet and THEN throw - that's always been the case - and Usyk simply pivots away in the time between the feet being set and the punches thrown, either reducing the impact or avoiding entirely.

He could try mauling/clinching to tire out the smaller man but when he did that on Saturday night, Usyk dealt with it very well.

Weighing up the realities, I don't think he can beat a fully fit and focussed Usyk...

 

Way more aggressive, I don't think he could turn his boxing around in a few months to box Usyk for 12 rounds and win. Just go for it from the get go.

 

Body shots opens you to head blows while you do this.
Especially cool if Usyk will have puncher's gloves next time and specially target liver and temples.

 

Good post and summary. Sums up 99% of how I see AJ:s chances and realistic options in the rematch.

I personally thought AJ boxed well generally and was quite surprised that his gas tank lasted as well as it did. Had AJ been fighting anyone else that night not named Usyk or Fury (possibly Wilder ) I think there's a good chance he beats them based on that performance.

Maybe it's a simple case that Usyk is AJ's Nemesis and that it's a classic case of styles make fights.....AJ's simply met his match regarding Usyk unless "luck" comes into the equation.

 

Yes, the money is there and if he plans on still boxing he has to try and avenge his lost. If he skips out on this and fight someone else then there is no redemption to his reputation.