Anthony Joshua wants to rediscover his passion for boxing as he prepares for his rematch with unified world heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr.
However, Joshua insists he is paying little attention to the negotiations and is solely focused on regaining his titles.
“I need to soak in the boxing environment again, get that passion back,” Joshua told Sky Sports. “The only fighter I’m interested in right now is Ruiz and beating him good so I can get those belts back.”
I’m not sure what to think about AJ’s admission about needing to get his “passion back”.
Surely being an elite-level athlete in your chosen discipline requires a passionate mind-set?
This sort of comment rings alarm bells and the rematch against Ruiz Jr. doesn’t bode well for Joshua if he no longer has the heart and desire to give his all the next time he steps foot inside the ring!
it's all just talk. he came in ready the last time. 6 pack and all. he looked a bit nervous. then jumped on ruiz recklessly, got caught, and couldn't recover.
his confidence will be battered. but he'll give it his best again. he still has physical advantages, size, reach.
if he could land his jab, he would have a good chance to win. but he seems to be more of a power monster. so we will see. that will play to ruiz, ruiz being a more natural boxer and slugger.
Worrying if true. Worrying for Joshua’s camp, fans and management etc
Talking about getting the passion back for boxing is almost as bad as talking about retirement. Once it’s mentioned, and it’s genuine thoughts, it’s usulaly game over.
Maybe the silk sheets and flash motors have taken a toll on the hunger? Happens all the time.
Might well happen with Ruiz too! He certainly seems to be spending his dough since he won the belts!
Don't take much out of it. For a fighter of his profile he's always having questions thrown his way and has to say stuff, with so much coming out a lot ends up sounding funny.
Similarly, people often get after fighters for bringing certain stuff up, when basically they are just responding to someone asking them about it.
Yup. Not a great sign for an athlete to doubt his own passion. He's no heart for the sport anymore. He had also mentioned something about it he had needed to go to war like he did with Wlad, he reconsider fighting. That was way before the Ruiz fight.
It's just boxing fans. Take a loss, and get treated like you are some finished and overrated dud. Same fans will get upset about fighters not testing themselves enough.
Hmmm, I wonder why
Last edited by margaret thatcher on 07 Aug 2019, 14:36, edited 1 time in total.
He got hurt after winning the first two rounds and rushing in following Andy's trip to the canvas, and I don't think he recovered. To me that's not the same as if from start to finish Ruiz just showed total superiority.
margaret thatcher wrote: ↑07 Aug 2019, 14:37
He got hurt after winning the first two rounds and rushing in following Andy's trip to the canvas, and I don't think he recovered. To me that's not the same as if from start to finish Ruiz just showed total superiority.
we've been over this countless times. We'll see in December. (hopefully). I'm more concerned with AJ's head than his abilities. I've posted that more times than I care to admit, but it's true and commentary like this is the reason why. Fragile mental state.
Well, it certainly sounds like someone who is having mental issues and that can't be good.
I can well imagine that Ruiz has got into his head. Ruiz not afraid, coming forward, and seemingly able to hit AJ any time he slipped the jab. I don't see what else they're going to bring to the table.
Just waiting to see Ruiz's weight before putting money on him. I just hope he doesn't blow out like the other upset champs Buster Douglas and Hasim Rachman.
That might help, but I am not sure he swings that way.