Stop these rematches i say. Joshua was beaten fair and square on saturday night. With a 20 lb weight advantage. 3 years youth advantage. A full house home crowd. 3 inch height advantage. 4 inch reach advantage. Judges that tried their level best to give him the fight and even they couldnt manage it. How many more advantages do you need and what chance do the rest of them have to fight for the title. Joshua was dethroned without much trouble you cant keep getting reruns till you get it right. What age will say whyte or joyce be when they get their chance?
I would prefer Usyk v the winner of Fury v Wilder next and crown an undisputed World Heavyweight Champion in 2022. If Wilder lands one on Fury that belt could also be hostage for at least one full year. Assume Joshua somehow wins the rematch, then 2 fights against Fury minimum - Joe Joyce will be approaching 40 by the time he gets a crack.
Suppose on one hand if AJ really, truly wants the rematch then you can sort of see the logic (kind of) - He avenged his only loss in a rematch and easily, while none of us know what went on in his training camp perhaps Joshua wasn't at 100% and has AJ been influenced by the Fury - Wilder rematch and the tactics Tyson used to destroy a naturally smaller opponent second time round by using his advantages in weight and strength ??
Old Bob has suggested exactly that. But no way Eddie and Joshua agree to let someone else have the shot at all four belts. Its an Ego thing, as no other heavyweight other than Fury has anything more than a punchers chance against Usyk.
Yeah I wouldn't be against AJ taking the step aside money if the winner of Fury vs Wilder fights Usyk's for unification (big if and no chance if Wilder wins would he fight Usyk) . AJ then could fight Whyte in a rematch instead (which would be a big earning fight against a guy who deserves a shot). The winner of Usyk vs Fury/Wilder then fights the winner of AJ vs Whyte. These fights would resolve the much debated ratings of the top HWs and would establish who is the top HW of this era. That said boxing politics/ promoters/ BS also get in the way of what the fans want and would be pleasantly surprised if it happened.
Agreed. I wish Usyk everything, he deserves all that he accomplishes - there needs to be more like him in the sport.
Agreed. Empty the tank, it’s heavyweight boxing and one punch which actually lands can change everything.
The Heavyweight Division with all the politics, rematch clauses etc would benefit greatly from a WBSS type of tournament with the winner taking all belts - could be the only way we end up with an undisputed champion.
1-nothings agreed in reality they just said they both want the rematch as per the contracts. 2-AJ won’t take the rematch. 3-Usyk will likely be stripped and belts spread throughout the division. (Cannot fulfill mandatory obligations etc/Eh Deh whispering in the ear of governing bodies). 4-Whyte wins a vacant belt as does AJ. 5-Whyte v AJ in the next 12 months.
Aj has the size reach and power advantage but lacks the engine and stamina. He’ll never beat usyk on points he needs to go in there and beat usyk up from the start and try to take him out early.
As much as I hate rematch clauses you can see why Usyks team will have wanted a rematch clause put in. They'll have known Usyk was going to be too good for AJ and by beating him they get an even bigger slice of the pie next time round.
Alex Krassyuk was very complimentary about the deal done with Eddie Earn and looking at the venue for the rematch that brings in most wonga. Hopefully this does not go to Saudi Arabia and ends up at Wembley Stadium.
I think this is a David Price mark 2 type scenario just at a higher level. AJ has lost confidence in his chin and tried to outbox a masterful boxer who is also a Southpaw. I always felt Joshua was a bully boy when he was coming up, there was a couple of examples of him hitting people whilst they were down in his early fights. Losing to Ruiz has humbled him and the win in the rematch flattered him because of the shape Ruiz entered the ring in. Taking nothing away from Usyk, but he did not that great against Bellew, Witherspoon or Chisora and AJ was fortunate to get away with having his chin checked in both the Whyte and Klitschko fights. Usyk, has great stamina and sets / maintains a phenomenal pace for a heavyweight and I agree with the others who think that AJ's best chance in the rematch would be a shoot-out. Otherwise, he has to take control of the centre of the ring and keep Usyk on the back foot for the 12 round duration.
