It is true that Oleksandr Usyk put on a master class in the art of boxing on Saturday. He changed angles and levels with his punches. He was able to deal with Anthony Joshua's jab and find a punching distance he could be successful with. He showed grit and determination. All in all, Usyk was very impressive. It is also true that Anthony Joshua was an impotent, lower level version of his former self. Joshua threw six, possibly eight punches, all fight that would have knocked Usyk down even if he had been standing there with his chin out saying "go ahead and hit me". Joshua's legs were raggedy and he often looked cautious and unsure. He hasn't been the same since the goofy smile began in the first Andy Ruiz fight. Usyk's win was hard fought and well deserved but I would not get too excited about it
You're not processing something correctly here. The reason why Anthony Joshua was impotent, couldn't land anything, looked like a lower level version of himself, had raggedy legs, and often looked cautious and unsure and had that goofy smile on his face throughout, is because Usyk cut his balls off by controlling range brilliantly, making him look like a lower level version of himself, rocked him repeatedly and drained him of his energy, making them look raggedy. In the process, broke his will, hurt him, confused him, befuddled him and made him unsure of himself. And in terms of stamina and boxing skills, that was one of the better versions of AJ we've ever seen, now contemplate that. AJ was that out of sorts by the end of that match, because Usyk did that to him, and no one else, he deserves full credit for it, so stop trying to rewrite history.
I'm not rewriting history, I'm remembering it. I agree that Usyk had a lot to do to do with Joshua's performance. However, AJ did not look much different than he looked in the Ruiz fights. Usyk, being the great fighter he is, was just much more equipped to take advantage of it.
I've long been one of the bigger AJ bashers on this site, so I must tread carefully in an effort to not look like a hypocrite here. I've been saying for years that Usyk would do exactly what he did to AJ, precisely because I've always thought that highly of the skillset and ability of Usyk, coupled with the fact that AJ doesn't possess an exemplary skillset and never has. But what he does possess, he's utilized quite effectively throughout his career. Which is size, speed, power, accuracy and strength, and with most opponents that's more than enough to get the job done. Then by adding a backfoot game, he used that power as the ultimate deterrent and put on a masterclass against Ruiz, beating him far more convincingly than Joseph Parker did. So he showed progress in the skills department as well. Now did AJ look awful against Ruiz the first time? Absolutely, because Andy clearly concussed him when he got overconfident going for the KO and he never recovered, also Andy's skillset is solid enough and hands were fast enough that combined with AJ being gassed and hurt, he was able to use those attributes to his advantage and force the stoppage. But in the rematch, AJ never looked all that worried or out of it, he simply played it safe and decided to outbox him instead of risk getting KO'd again, that's being logical. Then with Pulev, he could've gotten him out of there, but again, figured time was on his side, and it was. However, with Usyk, He didn't have two rounds and a half of success like he did with Ruiz the first time, he was losing this match via a schooling from the opening bell. The circumstances were completely different here, so no, two things aren't true here. Now, is AJ the same fighter he was before Ruiz? No, he's not even the same fighter he was against Wlad, who I argue is the one who broke him mentally. However he is a more intelligent and contemplative fighter and a better pure boxer, who's tried to learn from his mistakes going forward, thus far he's done well in adjusting to most adversity thrown his way, most of the time even mid fight... then Usyk happened.
**** thread mate. I'm not supposed to be excited about a fighter who has made himself a legend in 19 fights, with wins over such liked and respected fighters as Anthony Joshua, Mairis Briedis, Murat Gassiev, Marco Huck, Tony Bellew, Krysztof Glowacki, Derrick Chisora, Thabisco Mchunu, and Michael Hunter? May I be excited over finding a specimen of bigfoot, making contact with an alien civilization, or witnessing the second coming of Christ?
I think AJ is in his prime right now. Usyk just took away his tools and make him look bad. Just watch how he managed to take away AJs famous uppercut.
I wish people would place less emphasis on Joshua being "bad" and more emphasis on Usyk being good. Maybe Joshua was impotent because he simply couldn't do his work on Usyk because Usyk wouldn't allow him to.
Bodybuilder Joshua isn't use to fighting a foe quicker, and with more stamina then he has. Reminded me of the Holyfield Moorer fight when Evander was struggling to land any meaningful jabs when he tried to box him. That's probably why Lewis didn't fight Bryd. Never try boxing with a cruiserweight over 12 rounds. But them on the backfoot, trap them to the ropes, and try and take them out!
Everyone in the division has a better gas tank than Joshua. Usyk is just on another level. He's all wrong for Joshua in all the wrong ways.
Fighters tend to look bad when they fight vs superior boxers. The only Joshua-centric criticism you could make is of his overall gameplan, but that has never stopped us from hyping wins in the past. And it shouldn't today either.
Pull the other one. Threads like this only damage Joshuas reputation, I hope you know that. Just like the Wilder fanboys claiming that Wilder seemed off, and he was tired from his ****ing ring walk suit. AJ was befuddled from the outset. He fought well (better than EVER BEFORE) through rounds 4-8, but still lost almost all of those rounds. Usyk turned the screws whenever he wanted, and however he wanted. Joshua was nothing more than a big sparring partner for Usyk. Did you not see Joshua's body language in the corner after rounds 1,2,3,6,9,12? He was absolutely lost. It's in Joshua's best interest to avoid the rematch, take a couple of tune-ups and come back as a challenger.
Similar to what others have been saying for a long time (7 years in CST80's case!) i've been saying for ages that Usyk is a nightmare style matchup for AJ, and contrary to what the OP thinks, I actually think that was one of AJs best performances - he showed me things I didn't think he had in his locker last night, but obviously it still wasn't enough. Bottom line on this is that Usyk is a master technician and his style is perfectly suited to take maximum advantage of every one of AJs fundamental limitations:- 1) Stiff / robotic movement - Josh has got better in this area, but I think maybe the Ruiz return and old man Pulev flattered to deceive a bit there; especially Ruiz was in no shape to negate anything about AJs - fairly simple - gameplan. 2) Suspect gastank; I for one was MUCH more impressed with Joshua's cardio given I had my doubts he could hang with Usyk's pace and mental pressure into the championship rounds, but he surprised me there. 3) AJ doesn't - and never has - managed to deal with getting tagged/touched and not making it obvious to his opponent that it makes him uncomfortable / disrupts his flow. USyk is not the heaviest puncher even at cruiserweight sure, but he hits more than heavy enough (6 3', 220 ffs one Usyk cross would KO me!!! hehe) to disrupt whatever rythym AJ has, and more importantly make him wary of the feints and constant movement. Styles Make Fights!!!!
