This should be even more interesting than the first one. There's perhaps less pressure on you to win a match if it's the first fight in a guaranteed 2 fights. This fight is once and for all though. Could there be a trilogy? Sure, but AJ doesn't know this and knows this could be his last chance to be a champion. If he loses, then he's only chance is if Usyk and Fury both retire and he dominates their left overs. Joshua MUST go for it at some point. There is no way he can just sit behind that jab. He knows he needs KO or knockdowns. But in reality, it's probably a KO he needs, because if it's just a knockdown we know what he will be like for 2-3 rounds after expending that sort of energy. Joshua needs to win this fight within 8 rounds, or he's screwed. It's either Joshua by KO in the first 8 rounds, or Usyk via late TKO in rounds 9-12 What Joshua could take into consideration is that Usyk's stamina is a tad over rated, because he only finishes strong because he spends 3/4 of the first 8 rounds at a slower pace, he cannot keep up the same pace for 12 rounds, especially not at age 35. We're waiting for the moment where Joshua will unleash an assault, he MUST do it, and it will be interesting to see how Usyk handles it. I like both Usyk and Joshua, and I think they'd both be worthy Champions, but If I had to back one fighter it would probably be Joshua. I hope he wins, but will respect Usyk if he does. My heart says Joshua by KO in the middle rounds, but head says late Usyk TKO. I
Usyk stops him late I guess. The first fight shouldn't have been 20 seconds longer or Usyk would have ended it. Also, I think that Usyk knows he probably has to stop Joshua to make sure he doesn't get robbed. This might lead to him walking into something.
The first fight was a lot closer than most people are remembering. But this one will be wider, Usyk wide UD with maybe a knockdown on the way
Joshua has to get a stoppage or totally dominate Usyk as no judge will be robbing Ukraine here. I give Joshua a 10-15% chance.
Ive gone for Usyk KO/TKO. - assuming hes in the right frame of mind and whats happening in Ukraine doesnt affect him. I just dont see how AJ beats him. Hes not out boxing him, getting aggressive means hes open for counters and tires sooner. Hopefully this fight happens
I've never seen Usyk hurt that much, but he did look a bit shaken against Joshua when taking straight rights at 30% power. Joshua never threw anything near his hardest. Next fight, he will go all in, and he'll either get countered, hurt Usyk but not enough and gas out, or KO usyk. I want to see Usyk take a big shot. Joshua can beat Usyk, and it wouldn't surprise me if he does. But if I had to bet, I'd say Usyk late TKO.
Actually the Ukraine dynamic does make it interesting now with the judges. Crusading liberal Anglos might temporarily trade their usual diversity crusading for their latest trick and maybe Usyk gets a card bias to make a statement to Putin and Russian athletes now banned from the righteous democratic sports that apparently fight evil discrimination. Maybe AJ even gets three KDs and is robbed blind. Usyk better make this fight before the crusading wears off and we're on to risking a world war for Taiwanese democracy and freedumbs. Because at that point AJ has a big chance of a robbery win.
Sure, and everyone was surprised by that. But that means now the robbery option is even more likely, when Eddie can point to the first one being fair, and this time it's just how the judges saw it... nothing fishy going on at all.
We'll just have to wait and see. But as others have pointed out, I highly doubt they will rob a Ukrainian now.
Well, more to the point, they (Joshua and Matchroom) need the W. The rematch was in place the first time. Lose again, the AJ brand takes a big hit in the eye of the British public, even moreso if Fury looks sensational in April.
