That performance saved boxing !!

Him en Joyce are a breath of fresh air, genuine and class acts. Weirdly enough both don't get the respect that they deserve from their promoters.

 

Joshua can be overrated and still lose to an excellent boxer, who himself may not be the best of his own era.

It's funny how Usyk was seen as too small, over the hill and not good enough because he "didn't look good against Chisora", but now that he beats Joshua he has cemented legendary status. He may be a legend (my favourite boxer along with Kovalev, probably) but it may also be the case that Joshua is nowhere near as good as he was always touted to be. After all, this is a man who got battered by Andy Rice Pudding Jr. It's like what @NEETzschean said yesterday. Joshua loses to Ruiz and all of a sudden Ruiz is regarded as a dynamite puncher.

The losses will continue for Joshua if he is forced into stepping up, and I suspect that from a long-term point of view, he will have to, because wins against no hopers like Pulev, Takam, Molina, Breazeale, Psrker, Martin, Ruiz and co. simply won't cut it if he is to look to reinstate the hype that was initially invested in him.

 

Saw the latest Hearn interview. He’s absolutely furious they’ve lost.

I like Hearn but it’s always fun to see him upset like that.

 

Which interview is that ?

 

First time I've watched a Hearn clip in a long time, about two thirds of the way through.

He said something like "when you continue to fight the best losses will happen". That Usyk bout is only the second bout that could be seen as a fifty-fifty in Joshua's career. The guy is an absolute propaganda merchant and it is not surprise to hear all of his nonsense filter down into these forums and delivered so brazenly.

Just looked at the top 10 WBA. Mark de Mori may be the next opponent for Joshua. Another big name who put in a terrific performance vs David Haye and will be yet another top 10 name to boost the deepest record in heavyweight boxing. Short, old, no hoper who is "top 10", all boxes ticked.

 

The worst thing is that even as Usyk was winning virtually every round, AJ was boxing out of his skin and for long periods in the fight. I thought he'd crumble and be overwhelmed after the first 4 that Usyk swept but he got a bit aggressive in the mid rounds and made Usyk have to think. Usyk adjusted of course and AJ couldn't keep the pace but it was tenacious by AJ's standards. AJ couldn't have boxed better or have been better prepared for this fight. He didn't really go for Usyk at any point but to be honest McCrack was right to tell him to box behind his jab because otherwise AJ would have been stopped (destroying AJ further mentally and costing Hearn a lot more money) and they at least kept hope of a robbery decision alive. AJ was hurt many times in the fight starting early but somehow managed to stay on his feet and while he gassed late and got battered, he paced himself just well enough not to gas early and get stopped.

I thought going into the fight that Usyk had 2/10 power at HW but I'm now tempted to say it's actually 3/10, on par with Rice Pudding Jr. The idea though that AJ should fight Wilder, Joyce, Makhmudov, Hrgovic or any other dangerous, hard punching contender is madness. All the sharks are smelling blood. AJ needs to retire because Usyk will KO him next time.

 

Hearn basically saying when you fight the level of opposition Joshua does you're bound to lose a few then reels off Breazeale, Takam, Martin and Molina. Then proceeds to say Wilder hasn't beaten anyone outside of Ortiz. Seems Breazeale is allowed to be a good win for Joshua but not for Wilder. Can't keep up with his own spin.

 

IFL 50 min thing. Watched about 30 mins - Hearn is so annoyed they lost

 

And Molina, too.

 

Good post.

 

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Seen him say it about 5 times since last week. The opening sentence of 'lets look at the resume - Martin, Breazeale, Molina...' shut up Eddie ffs.

 

Interestingly that video of Hearn having a go at the member of the crowd is subject to a bit of damage limitation PR.

It’s not that bad to us, but perhaps to DAZN it doesn’t look great - especially as they’re aiming to be fairly mainstream and family friendly.

 

Mate it's boxing..Family friendly? Never in a million years.