Will we ever see the 'Old AJ' again?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by James9753, Apr 2, 2023.


  1. James9753

    James9753 Member Full Member

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    Will we ever see the 'Old AJ' ever again? He just doesn't seem the same fighter since that Ruiz Jr loss back in 2019. Constantly apprehensive and reticent to let his hands go anymore and reel off combinations. Seems too content with jabbing and throwing the odd pot-shot right hand when he's 100% certain of landing it. Methodical and effective against a certain level of fighter, but not particularly entertaining and I just see him getting eaten alive by Fury and Wilder if he boxes like that against them.

    Is there anything that can be done/can Derrick James work his magic to bring back the 'dog' in AJ, or has that ship well and truly sailed?
     
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  2. heerko koois

    heerko koois Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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  3. CroBox29

    CroBox29 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    There is no way, Joshua is finished, he should hang up his gloves and get into some kind of business, we saw his behavior after the fight and I wonder why Joshua didn't use those emotions during the fight?
     
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  4. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    "I'm not a twelve round fighter!"
     
  5. VOXDEI

    VOXDEI Active Member Full Member

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    He's lost his nerve, in a deep sense, it probably isn't coming back.
     
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  6. effigy

    effigy Member Full Member

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    Zero chance.

    What you're seeing is innate self preservation, he probably can't override it at this point. It's no different to any other human being who say has a fall on a bike and just takes that little more care from now on, or gets a lifting injury and just never pushes the envelope ever again.

    It's why, despite probably wanting to 'turn it on' internally against Franklin, he now has a mental block or defence mechanism that just doesn't allow him in case he gets hurt.
     
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  7. chacal

    chacal F*** the new normal Full Member

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    Zero interest in that.

    Old AJ was a hyped bodybuilder. Now he is a body builder who cannot be hyped because reality is too stubborn.

    I dont miss old AJ who actualy is the same as the new AJ. The only difference is that he cannot be hyped anymore, as I said.
     
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2023
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  8. dinovelvet

    dinovelvet Antifanboi Full Member

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    Unknown. It was the weight that made him look poor. I said the same thing about him when he was 254 against Tackam. He's too imobile at that weight.

    When he fought Povetkin at 245 he could attack and move at the same time.
     
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  9. UniversalPart

    UniversalPart Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    With the new mental approach and new gym techniques he has been working on and refining since 2019 he has over-written his old style.

    This is his "new" muscle memory now so this is the style we will see. He cannot change tactic midway a fight or on the fly like many other fighters can because

    - He is an over thinker
    - He doesn't have the natural ring IQ
    - He stands and admire his own work too much
    - He repeats the same thing over and over because he tries to find success with that approach

    PS: if he front runs you, he is going to demolish you and his head will be full of confidence and steam and he'll go all-out in an attack and really hurt you.
    If he can't steamroll you then he'll be gunshy and hesitant looking for openings and getting countered regularly.
     
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2023
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  10. miniq

    miniq AJ IS A BODYBUILDING BUM Full Member

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    Old AJ gets chinned by top opposition.

    New AJ gets chinned by top opposition

    He can't win
     
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  11. rusev

    rusev Active Member Full Member

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    Against Pulev it was his last good showing.
     
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  12. OldSchoolBoxing

    OldSchoolBoxing Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He is also not the Mr Nice Guy anymore. His mask slipped.

    The meltdown after Usyk rematch and last night's post fight events prove that.
     
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  13. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Joshua is mentally shot. He’s too afraid to get hit now an if makes him too anxious to really let his shots go in case he gets countered. He knows this an this is why he gets so irritable an confrontational outside the ring when he’s talking
     
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  14. ArseBandit

    ArseBandit Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    That AJ never existed. Product of poor opposition.
     
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  15. ikrasevic

    ikrasevic Who is ready to suffer for Christ (the truth)? Full Member

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    Anthony Joshua who knocked out: Alexander Povetkin, Wladimir Klitschko, Charles Martin and Dillian Whyte - we won't.