I've just re-watched AJ vs Usyk - Paying close attention, you may think a bit differently....

It's true AJ at did some good work at times in the fight but by the end of the 11th round he was close to being gassed out. In the 12th he gassed out completely and only the clock saved him. I'm sure if there would have been a 13th he would have been stopped. Even though Usyk is 34 years old it's hard for me to believe that AJ will do any better in a rematch and I think there would be a good chance that he will be TKOed.

 

I agree. AJ has at least a puncher's chance against anyone but I don't think he has the mentality to go for broke against Usyk who would counter him in a very nasty way. It's hard for me to imagine how AJ could beat Usyk except for questionable decision.

 

It was interesting how much he stepped back against Wlad, jabbed from the backfoot, and moved more laterally. He was more stationary in this fight, stood his ground more, and took the centre of the ring. Usyk just wouldn't stop throwing mid range, and picked him off. I think Joshua realized in the later rounds, that he wasn't gonna match him with volume. But by then, he took too many jabs to mount a second assault, his eyes were too badly swollen. Maybe a rethink of figthing in spurts, and at longer range would be a thought. I give it to Uysk, his attacks troubled Joshua early on. It was enough power to keep the bodybuilder from pressing him.

 

He didn't take them because this version of AJ has to balance risk and reward when it comes to taking openings. He knows he gets buzzed more easily since Wlad cracked his chin, and needs a round or two to recover when he unloads aggressively but fails to get the stoppage. It was the same against Parker, Takam, Ruiz 2 and to some extent Pulev. Old AJ would have won all of those by stoppage (ref did the job for him vs Takam), or in the case of Pulev it wouldn't have taken him nine rounds.

The only time since fighting Wald when he attacked like the AJ of old was Ruiz 1 and we all know what happened there. As does he.

I said before the Usyk fight, AJ's best chance of winning was to fight like he used to in the early rounds, but I don't think he can anymore - the mental scars inhibit him. I wouldn't say he's gun shy but he's more cautious than required to execute the kind of game plan which would see him take the chances you spotted. He who hesitates is lost.

If he can overcome those mental scars he could press the action more and turn the tables. But the Wlad fight was four years ago. It's a long road from the AJ we saw at the weekend back to the type of fighter he needs to rediscover within himself.

Actually, I think he needs an extended break from boxing and to stay out of the gym for at least six months, recharge his batteries and only then consider trying to beat the man who by the end of the 12th had dismantled him. But the rematch clause prevents him doing this...

 

If you're saying you couldn't tell that Joshua had Usyk hurt then there's no point in me saying which round. I'm not saying Usyk was ready to go but he definitely felt at least 2 maybe 3 back hands over the course of the fight. There was also body shots that backed him up. Again not suggesting that Usyk was on the edge of being stopped but following up on those shots may have have some impact on the fight.

 

I've rewatched the fight now and concede my scorecard of 115-113 was too close. I can see now 8-4 or even 9-3 for Usyk is a fair score.

 

I rewatched it last night and was also surprised at how close it was until the last 2 rounds.
There is definitely some hope for AJ for the rematch, those middle rounds when he was starting to exert his size advantage, Usyk can't take too much of that.

 

This content is protected

 

I just dont think AJ can beat him

Some guys just have another guys number

 

I'm no expert like the majority of people on here think they are but I had 9-3 Usyk.

 

Like a little lamb.

 

I've only watched it once but I scored it 9-3 (AJ winning only rds 5,6 and 8).however I totally agree with what you're saying in respect of you usually need to watch a fight 2 or 3 times to understand what is happening and what is landing and how effective or damaging whatever it is that lands.

The majority of people watch a fight once and not with a keen eye and then they bang on about how one guy schooled the other when in fact they don't know shite.

I remember watching Wlad Fury when I was a fairly casual viewer. At the time I watched I thought it was a schooling and the narrative and commentary didn't help. However after 1 or 2 watches since I realised it was absolutely not a schooling.. On my scorecard I had it 7-5, 8-4 pushing it Fury... But it's not just the scorecard, the rounds Fury won that won him the fight were won by two or three jabs (I'm not talking head snapping powerful jabs) and one or two scuffing inside glove slapping hooks (which aren't scoring punches).

So yeah there's that.. Ill watch AJ-Usyk again at some point and I won't be surprised If AJ wins more round or Usyk wins more or differents rounds

 

Oh and there was a lot of people banging about AJ being hurt on 2 or 3 occasions and exaggerating this. Watching these clips back and seconds after, Usyk clearly lands some tasty beautifully timed shots. However, to me it didn't look like AJ was hurt. There were a few punches where AJ was stumbly and off balance (caused by Usyks movement and punches of course) but I feel like AJ was never really "hurt" if that make sense. His feet from my viewing always recovered very quickly and he looked too bothered shortly after getting tagged. But I do think he isn't use to eating clean punches by the way he stumbles.

At the end where Usyk was teeing off on Aj.. He didn't look like someone was hurt, he looked like he just didn't know how to deal with the flurry. Usyk did land some great punches at the end but not much actually fully connected. He did look ****ing knackered tho.

I know it sounds like I'm being an AJ fangirl here but I just don't see AJ being hurt in those moments.