This fight exposed why AJ fights gun shy

Indeed, hence such is the approach AJ and his team should utilize for every opponent who's a puncher. He did such approach vs Usyk twice and with Ruiz after all. Utilize experience, patience, skill, defense. AJ should have those advantages over Dubois back there. That was an all-Dubois fight back there.

 

It was already settled years ago that Joshua changed his style because he was gassing too quickly. He himself has talked about it.
He later adopted more changes after the Ruiz loss, because he had no answers to Ruiz after he got hurt.

 

hes not built for war

 

Even way back when he fought Wlad I thought the same. Both Wlad and Dubois are fighters who are at there most effective when leading, so why fight a reactive fight where you allow them to fight their fight and dictate the pace. The moment he came out against Dubois and didn't try to dictate the fight from the opening bell against a younger less experienced opponent making a big step up was a baffling choice for me. I was worried soon as I saw that approach.

But even if he had come out slinging to backing Dubois up early he would have lost. The rookie errors he was making was shocking, the worst Joshua I have seen since before he won a title. The first knockdown for example, backs up, chin in the air left hand by his waist.

This fight was supposed to be a step up for Dubois but in reality Dubois recently has fought the better opposition while Joshua has been facing vastly overmatched opponents. It in reality was a step up for Joshua because he hasn't faced a genuine threat in over 2 years, while Dubois has been in the trenches getting into brawls and having his limits pushed and overwhelmed against Usyk.

 

The two fighters who stopped Joshua were prepared to punch with him and continue to do so when they were hurt. Not sure he will ever have the answer to that blueprint. Not sure he ever did. I'm trying to think of any in-their-prime power punchers he's shared a ring with other than Dubois and, to a lesser extent, Ruiz. Lost them both.

 

True. And Klitschko would have taken him out in round 5 if he wasn’t 41 years old and inactive, and had the youth and gas tank to just step on the gas too.

 

Defensive responsibility is key. He can adopt the Wlad blueprint and it could work for him, he showed he can hold onto Dubois and reset the action when needed.
Dubois landed that wicked right hand in the first round because Joshua thought that he was out of reach. Well, he wasn´t and he took a punch he didn´t see coming.
Joshua has to assume that he is vulnerable at all times, except when tied up in a clinch. To mitigate the effects of the left hook, Joshua should never, ever pull his head back onto the center line after throwing a punch himself. Either tie up or take an angle and disengage.

There are simple, minor adjustments that Joshua can do to find a lot more success in a rematch.

 

That's correct.

There were many people saying Joshua would beat Louis, Marciano, Holyfield, Patterson, Charles etc.. because he is too big. You have to factor in mental strength/capability. Very often it comes down to just that: who is mentally stronger/won't yield (and Joshua yielded to Ruiz, so..)

 

Joshua reminds me of Bruno when he gets hurt he looks like a deer in the headlights. I also don’t like the fact in atleast 2 fights now Ruiz 1, Dubois, Joshua looked scared to me.

He does look a bit vulnerable mentally at times.

 

The only fight I remember AJ fighting gunshy is the rematch vs Ruiz, tbh.

I wouldnt say that the bodybuilder fights gunshy.

 

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He was passive vs Franklin and Usyk the 1st time he also looked gunshy vs Helenius who had a weeks notice and a glass chin. Helenius was putting it on him and busting him up with the jab for 6 rounds until Joshua finally opened up in the 7th round.

 

Yes, well. I wouldnt define AJ as a gunshy fighter. Maybe I should

 

Everyone has a game plan until they get punched in the face. Famous quote, perfectly describes what happened last night.

AJ with all his experience and lessons learned from Ruiz fight about not going for the kill
until its the right time...

Instinct just takes over, and AJ tagged Dubois followed up and got reckless. Is what it is.

I think he can come back and go again for rematch, but Dubois looked better in every department. AJ needed to do more.