Hearn: "Joshua 'relieved' to have first loss

[oogiebe]

Said it seems there is a bit of relief that the pressure of keeping his zero is gone. I think it's very interesting and dovetails into so many other conversations we've had on why keeping the zero intact is NOT good for boxing and mostly we the fans. Thoughts?

[oogiebe]

https://www.BS.com/hearn-joshu ... ow--139630

[Noxy]

The zero is overrated. No doubt about it. I‘ve said that for years.

[HomicideHenry]

Wouldn't surprise me. The guy a week ago or so admitted to seeing a sports psychologist. Who knows, maybe it was something of a dive.

Wouldn't it be something if this was all a Jedi mind trick to make Fury and Wilder view him as nothing, so he could get the drop on them. By losing intentionally.

[oogiebe]

The zero is overrated. No doubt about it. I‘ve said that for years.

More than overrated, it's problematic when it's focused on so much. We've had the greatest rivalries when we had Leonard/Hagler/Duran/Hearns & Ali/Frazier/Foreman/Norton all of whom lost at least once. We don't have that today. Nothing close. We can't even get one superfight and there are so many to be made in many divisions. Hoping this upset changes things.

[kbackup408]

I think the elder statesman's of this forum will agree with me that this imaginary zero never existed when boxing was booming in the 80's/90's - if you are constantly matched with the cream of every division you will struggle to keep your 0

[oogiebe]

Wouldn't surprise me. The guy a week ago or so admitted to seeing a sports psychologist. Who knows, maybe it was something of a dive.

Wouldn't it be something if this was all a Jedi mind trick to make Fury and Wilder view him as nothing, so he could get the drop on them. By losing intentionally.

Hysterical! My dad used to tell me that Ray Robinson would throw fights in order to have more lucrative rematches because there was no one to fight. I know you're kidding, but it's a funny thought.

[Contendeh]

Yeah. Overrated as hell is the zero.

Separates the mentally tough from the not so.

[ThereByTheGrace]

Wouldn't surprise me. The guy a week ago or so admitted to seeing a sports psychologist. Who knows, maybe it was something of a dive.

Wouldn't it be something if this was all a Jedi mind trick to make Fury and Wilder view him as nothing, so he could get the drop on them. By losing intentionally.

Haha good one..

[oogiebe]

I think the elder statesman's of this forum will agree with me that this imaginary zero never existed when boxing was booming in the 80's/90's - if you are constantly matched with the cream of every division you will struggle to keep your 0

Shvt...elderly statesmen and you mention the 80's. What does that make me mentioning the early seventies!

[KiwiRider]

Joshua has said numerous times that eventually he will lose and it doesn't bother him. It's how you come back off that loss.
Fair enough. But I dont think he expected that loss to be to Andy "blubber baby" Ruiz

[HomicideHenry]

Hysterical! My dad used to tell me that Ray Robinson would throw fights in order to have more lucrative rematches because there was no one to fight. I know you're kidding, but it's a funny thought.

I'd love to believe a conspiracy theory like that but.... I've always said it... A willing, durable, fast handed guy with alot of heart and self belief (Fury) would beat Joshua... In alot of ways Ruiz is something like a poor man's Fury, except shorter.

I never really saw him as a puncher, but last night he showed he could be--- but I blame that more on Joshua's questionable chin and stamina issues than Ruiz' having power.

Then again Joshua looked happy to be losing, as if there was some inside joke. But I think it was more disbelief than anything else. "Is this really happening in my first fight overseas?", what else could you do but laugh or cry.

[kbackup408]

Joshua has said numerous times that eventually he will lose and it doesn't bother him. It's how you come back off that loss.
Fair enough. But I dont think he expected that loss to be to Andy "blubber baby" Ruiz

I had Ruiz winning the Parker bout but fek me yesterday surprised me - the lad has done well secured his family for life with that money !

[KiwiRider]

Shvt...elderly statesmen and you mention the 80's. What does that make me mentioning the early seventies!

Ancient artifact

[greg]

..these 0-loss records are definitely overrated.. huge psychological burden to keep records "perfect"..this aura of invincibility turns boxers into zombies compelled to talk bs making themselves look like clowns (Wilder, Tyson come to mind)...makes promoters a bit more flexible negotiating contracts etc...

[oogiebe]

Ancient artifact

[SenorPipino]

Social media today doesn't allow boxers to gracefully lose.

Win a few fights in a row and you're an ATG to armchair fans.

Lose (especially by KO) and you're suddenly the biggest stiff to ever don boxing gloves.

The spotlight is brighter than ever in this era. Defeat is not an option if you want to remain at the top of the pecking order. At least in the public's mind.

[Noxy]

Social media today doesn't allow boxers to gracefully lose.

Win a few fights in a row and you're an ATG to armchair fans.

Lose (especially by KO) and you're suddenly the biggest stiff to ever don boxing gloves.

The spotlight is brighter than ever in this era. Defeat is not an option if you want to remain at the top of the pecking order. At least in the public's mind.

It works both ways though. A big win and you’re back in the mix. Social media doesn’t really dwell on the past.

[oogiebe]

Even LL, the greatest HW of all time, was written off after both of this losses. I remember it well. So this is nothing unusual. AJ was really good for a long time. Last night was something strange. While I always thought he'd be exposed, this is not how I envisioned it. I have to think he'll straighten himself out and be back as a force in the ring. I'd be surprised if he doesn't. Although it's hard to not compare his performance last night to Michael Grant (vs LL). He's been hit as hard or harder by other fighters but never reacted the way he did last night. The more I think about it, the more I think something wasn't right with him. OVERTRAINED? UNDERFOCUSED? CAN'T HANDLE THE BIG PRESSURE? All respect to Ruiz, but I look forward to seeing AJ getting a rematch.

[Thomastearns]

Eddie Hearn is trying to emulate his father's incredible attitude in the face of adversity. A great example to all of us.

Hopefully some of the hunger will rub off on Anthony Joshua and he will come back to pulverise the rest of the division.

In the meantime perhaps we all shouldn't be so quick to write off the likes of Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Tyson and co.

[Boxing Prospect]

Saw this earlier and it is... Interesting to say the least

During fight week, Joshua told Carl Frampton that after beating Wladimir Klitschko in a topsy-turvy 2017 bout, he had informed trainer Rob McCracken he would "give up" if he needed to be in fights which played out like a rollercoaster again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/48489862

[HomicideHenry]

Saw this earlier and it is... Interesting to say the least



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/48489862

If he really took the easy way out then he needs to retire. This is the fight business not musical chairs.

[oogiebe]

Saw this earlier and it is... Interesting to say the least



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/48489862

Great article. Somewhat bleak for AJ in some ways. Hope the lad bounces back. Thanks!

[HomicideHenry]

[Nondescript]

It's interesting regarding the pressure of keeping that 0. Neither Wilder or Fury seem to feel that pressure in the same way. Not noticeably atleast. Now at the same time, obviously Joshua's profile is bigger than both which creates more pressure.

Not sure whether it's the 0 as much or just being so popular and also having an 0.