Why did Anthony Joshua exhibit such poor defense?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Slyk, Oct 17, 2024.


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  1. Slyk

    Slyk Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It's shocking that a fighter I was told has the best resume in boxing has such crude, amateurish defense. What gives? Did Anthony Joshua slowly unlearn his ability to avoid punches?

    There are some folks on this forum who would claim his career was largely a manufactured one, with big names added to the leger at strategic times. A calculated effort to maximize profit from a mediocre product. I'm not that cynical.

    I think what happened on the night against Dubois is that Joshua was concussed. That's right, folks. A professional boxer was punched and it rendered him unable to do his job. You may find this a curious excuse, but the truth is that it happened before against Andy Ruiz Jr. It's not Joshua's fault he couldn't perform; he got concussed. If you're wondering why you haven't heard this excuse used for another fighter ever in the history of the sport, quit being a hater.

    Is the inability to defend yourself from a long overhand right a liability against a fighter like prime Wilder? No. Joshua would have won that fight. Wilder, Fury, and many others ducked Joshua. The idea of making career high money in front of millions against a timid fighter with poor defense turned them all into ducks.

    I think Joshua needs to keep active, and keep learning from the brilliant boxing minds he has surrounded himself with. Ben Davison and Lee Wylie have dissected the game in a scientific manner. It will take time for Joshua, who is still a work in progress despite 17 years in the game, to digest all the knowledge. If he can refine his defense a bit (and hopefully avoid getting concussed), he has a real chance to get his offense going like he did against Usyk.

    I am backing him to do the job in February 2025. Who is with me, ESB?
     
    Slyk, Oct 17, 2024
    Slyk, Oct 17, 2024
    #1
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  2. MarkusFlorez99

    MarkusFlorez99 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    joshua fought like normal he just has no chin and no plan against a younger fresysher fighter he's used to tentative old men with no reflexes
     
    MarkusFlorez99, Oct 17, 2024
    MarkusFlorez99, Oct 17, 2024
    #2
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  3. lobk

    lobk Original ESB Member Full Member

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    When was he ever a defensive genius? He exhibit the same defense he always has.
     
    lobk, Oct 17, 2024
    lobk, Oct 17, 2024
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  4. like a boss

    like a boss Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Only he would know. He wasn't instructed to fight that way. Rookie error.
     
    like a boss, Oct 17, 2024
    like a boss, Oct 17, 2024
    #4
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  5. MidniteProwler

    MidniteProwler Fab 4. Mayor of Aussie Boxing Full Member

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    Dubios came out aggressive and AJ was like a Deer in the headlights.
     
    MidniteProwler, Oct 17, 2024
    MidniteProwler, Oct 17, 2024
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  6. MagnificentMatt

    MagnificentMatt Beterbiev literally kills Plant and McCumby 2v1 Full Member

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    Yup. He came in expecting a certain kind of fight, and wasn’t able to get his head right after DuBois put hands on him early and often.

    I want to say he’d do better in a rematch… but man that was a severe ass whooping, and he’s had a few of them now….
     
    MagnificentMatt, Oct 17, 2024
    MagnificentMatt, Oct 17, 2024
    #6
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  7. jmb1356

    jmb1356 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    He's never had good defense. Why do you think so many has-beens have landed good shots on him?
     
    jmb1356, Oct 17, 2024
    jmb1356, Oct 17, 2024
    #7
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  8. MarkAntony202

    MarkAntony202 Member Full Member

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    Not trying to be rude but can I ask who said this?
     
    MarkAntony202, Oct 17, 2024
    MarkAntony202, Oct 17, 2024
    #8
  9. elbazer

    elbazer New Member Full Member

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    No idea why his chin was so high and his guard so low, so early in such a dangerous fight. No doubt in my mind he has regressed since the Ruiz loss. Forget the mental side, focus, distraction etc. Purely from a technical/tactical point of view. Him vs. Povetkin compared to him now is night and day. Not an expert, but I think he needs to get back to basics.
     
    elbazer, Oct 17, 2024
    elbazer, Oct 17, 2024
    #9
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  10. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    What a bizarre thread.

    He was knocked out, it happens.
     
    lufcrazy, Oct 17, 2024
    lufcrazy, Oct 17, 2024
    #10
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  11. MorvidusStyle

    MorvidusStyle Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Annoyingly he was quite hard for Wlad to hit back in the old days. Wlad was winging shots all night. Maybe being 41 was part of that, but he was also better than ever, letting his hands go like never before, and sewed his flashdisk into the robe with all his sauna footage on it. After the fight he was so proud of AJ his new bestie and Jonathan Banks couldn't wipe the smile off his face. What a night!

    It's possible Anthony has also slowed down now and without the yoof advantage over every single opponent he will be even easier to hit.

    I still give him a decent chance to win against Dubious though, simply because Dubious is also a hyped brand and because Joshie is going to be help by some serious chemicals.
     
    MorvidusStyle, Oct 17, 2024
    MorvidusStyle, Oct 17, 2024
    #11
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  12. chacal

    chacal F*** the new normal Full Member

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    You can only blame the trainers here. You fight as you train.

    His defense was not that crap before. The day after the fight someone posted a video where a bald guy compared AJ's guard in the fight with his guard in his early fights. It was very obvious that his defense was not that crap. So I repeat that the one to blame here are the new trainers.
     
    Last edited: Oct 18, 2024
    chacal, Oct 17, 2024
    chacal, Oct 17, 2024
    #12
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  13. tragedy

    tragedy Active Member Full Member

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    I think Joshua's reflexes are slipping and his sheer size is slowing him down a lot
     
    tragedy, Oct 17, 2024
    tragedy, Oct 17, 2024
    #13
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  14. like a boss

    like a boss Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    He was schooled from the opening bell and part of the reason was his pi55 poor defence. The knockout was just the inevitable conclusion.
     
    like a boss, Oct 18, 2024
    like a boss, Oct 18, 2024
    #14
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  15. like a boss

    like a boss Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    How many trainers are people, including Joshua himself, going to blame before he takes ownership of his own failures?
     
    like a boss, Oct 18, 2024
    like a boss, Oct 18, 2024
    #15
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