Is AJ's head in the game

[jamesmcdonnell]

Following the loss to Usyk, I saw some pictures that had me questioning whether or not Joshua's desire is there or not, especially following a performance where he didn't really ever seem to give it his all, and rather meekly capitulated considering he was fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world. I'm not saying it would have changed the outcome, but it didn't seem like he left it all in the ring.

There were post fight pictures of him laughing and joking with Usyk, - should you be happy after having just been beaten and losing all your titles.

He also didn't seem focussed enough on his way to the ring, smiling, laughing and high fiving people, whereas Usyk looked laser focussed on the job at hand.

I really do wonder whether Joshua's head has gone, am I reading too much into this, but his behaviour to me suggests a fighter who isn't that bothered about losing, and maybe the hunger has gone.

[Counter-puncher]

'a businessman more than a fighter' ??

[jamesmcdonnell]

It's certainly beginning to look that way.

He just doesn't seem to have that much fire in his belly now - he had a real mean streak early in his career.

It might also be that he just doesn't want to get knocked out again after the Ruiz fight, he wouldn't be the first fighter to become gunshy after a battering.

But to look happy after losing all your belts - hell no!

[emallini]

Just lost to the better man

[cormack]

Maybe he knew that Usyk was going to be a lot better than him on the boxing level and was always looking at a 2 fight scenario to understand what is needed to beat him .

But even if he got the win 2nd time around its still 1 a piece anyway and so you need the best of three to settle any doubts .
I do wonder if its become all about the £££ and the fame / celeb life etc etc and all this tosh about being a role model for kids just does my head in .

[JamesPhilips]

Personal problems? What’s going on in his love life!? He never seems to have a girlfriend and I’ve seen some weird speculation on the web

[jamesmcdonnell]

Just lost to the better man

That doesn't explain looking so happy about it afterward!

[milpool]

He also didn't seem focussed enough on his way to the ring, smiling, laughing and high fiving people, whereas Usyk looked laser focussed on the job at hand.

I did notice this and wondered if he was taking Usyk too lightly?

[JamesPhilips]

He also didn't seem focussed enough on his way to the ring, smiling, laughing and high fiving people, whereas Usyk looked laser focussed on the job at hand.

I did notice this and wondered if he was taking Usyk too lightly?

I don’t think lightly but I said in another post that his head didn’t look right. I was laughed at lol. I think he’s sick of the whole thing. The pressure. All the interviews. Playing the humble nice guy role. The pressure must be astronomical

[veriton]

He was smiling after being banjoed by Ruiz too (and he quit in that fight). The guy's a millionaire, looks like he could have had the street beaten and paid out of him.

Understandable, as he has squeezed a lot into a fairly short pro career at a high level. There are big ways to redemption though, the main one obviously being Fury. If he's hurt enough by being timid against Usyk and losing, he may go all guns blazing against Fury and do something special to even it out.

[IRONFIST]

Didn't you know it's a blessing, a win is a blessing, a loss is a blessing, he'll have quite a few loss blessings by the end of his career.

[Ricky]

Never a fighter. Boxing's version of an X-factor winner that's getting handsomely paid by Simon Cowell to sing other people's songs. Hearn took a guy that was hugely marketable and hired the best trainer to get him as far as he could.

[emallini]

Just lost to the better man

That doesn't explain looking so happy about it afterward!

He looked depressed to me.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Just lost to the better man

That doesn't explain looking so happy about it afterward!

He looked depressed to me.

What in the photo where he's laughing his head off?

[peter barlow]

How much money does he have? It sounds like a lot. There is something odd for sure, that Ruiz loss has shook him he seems very safety first. Just doesn't let his hands go like he used to.

I do hope he doesn't retire though, there is so many guys out there he can beat and have massive fights. I don't like saying it but maybe he needs to train in America with a new set up and fresh ideas. Make the adjustments.

[Oiky]

I dont want to take away from usyk,who was clearly the better man,but i dont think he has the heart or head for it, no

[maverick23]

Following the loss to Usyk, I saw some pictures that had me questioning whether or not Joshua's desire is there or not, especially following a performance where he didn't really ever seem to give it his all, and rather meekly capitulated considering he was fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world. I'm not saying it would have changed the outcome, but it didn't seem like he left it all in the ring.

There were post fight pictures of him laughing and joking with Usyk, - should you be happy after having just been beaten and losing all your titles.

He also didn't seem focussed enough on his way to the ring, smiling, laughing and high fiving people, whereas Usyk looked laser focussed on the job at hand.

I really do wonder whether Joshua's head has gone, am I reading too much into this, but his behaviour to me suggests a fighter who isn't that bothered about losing, and maybe the hunger has gone.

I agree with this fully. I said to the guys I was watching it with that he didn’t seem at all focused during the walk in. He was far more focused on his last couple of fights.

[Monzon83]

I hate to see fighters smiling and joking with fans on the way to the ring. He even stopped to go and hug an old lady? He's not Hulk Hogan.

He does seem to have lost that eye of the tiger. If that goes, it's usually over for a fighter. Unlike the Rocky movies you don't usually get it back.

[KiwiRider]

I hate to see fighters smiling and joking with fans on the way to the ring. He even stopped to go and hug an old lady? He's not Hulk Hogan.

He does seem to have lost that eye of the tiger. If that goes, it's usually over for a fighter. Unlike the Rocky movies you don't usually get it back.

You don't get it back when your bank account is stuffed full, everyone around you says your the man, and hardship is what you skip over when your reading the financial pages

[rd350lc]

Didn't you know it's a blessing, a win is a blessing, a loss is a blessing, he'll have quite a few loss blessings by the end of his career.

Don't think he will , he'll be long gone out of the game if the losses stack up .

[rd350lc]

How much money does he have? It sounds like a lot. There is something odd for sure, that Ruiz loss has shook him he seems very safety first. Just doesn't let his hands go like he used to.

I do hope he doesn't retire though, there is so many guys out there he can beat and have massive fights. I don't like saying it but maybe he needs to train in America with a new set up and fresh ideas. Make the adjustments.

I agree , too many blowing smoke up his arris and was shocked McCracken didn't tell him to go for it in the last third of the fight as he was behind , wether he'd got the energy to do so was another thing .
Also it's not as if he got poggered in there a la wilder ,he lost quite widely but not smashed to pieces.
Loads of fights out there if he still wants it , question is does he still want it ?

[orbtastic]

He strikes me as someone not particularly intelligent, he is also clearly quite wealthy for a man of his talents. He’s probably not that bothered, why would he be when he made more from the rematch with Ruiz than he did the initial fight and Ruiz made less than he did as the champ.

[rob h]

He only hadvhis head in the game and the "eye of the tiger" when he was fighting journeymen or has beens. He's not a natural fighter and comes across fake as fornicate in interviews. He's all about the money. Usyk was the real deal who you can tell he lives and breathes the sport. I was actually surprised that Joshua didn't quit or look to the ref for help as soon as the accurate shots started loading up.

[Floydendizer]

Let’s be honest they’ve bought the title twice now Martin & Ruiz , in between he’s been matched perfectly to earn probably 250 mill ? The closest to an elite win for Joshua is arguably Vladimir I think Joshua is done now , they’re is no way he wins the rematch & personally think we’ll see every excuse possible to avoid Usyk , Joshua struggles to get in the UK top 5 at the moment & I’d go as far as saying if Joshua boxed Chisora next it it would be life or death battle for Joshua to get the win .

[MasterG]

Too many painful memories of being chinned and dropped. His bottle has gone