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Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 08:54
by 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.
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 09:02
by Counter-puncher
'a businessman more than a fighter' ??
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 09:10
by 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!
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 09:16
by emallini
Just lost to the better man
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 09:20
by 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 .
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 09:21
by 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
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 09:25
by jamesmcdonnell
emallini wrote: ↑27 Sep 2021, 09:16
Just lost to the better man
That doesn't explain looking so happy about it afterward!
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 09:33
by milpool
jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑27 Sep 2021, 08:54
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?
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 09:39
by JamesPhilips
milpool wrote: ↑27 Sep 2021, 09:33
jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑27 Sep 2021, 08:54
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
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 09:46
by 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.
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 09:54
by 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.
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 10:15
by 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.
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 12:42
by emallini
jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑27 Sep 2021, 09:25
emallini wrote: ↑27 Sep 2021, 09:16
Just lost to the better man
That doesn't explain looking so happy about it afterward!
He looked depressed to me.
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 12:44
by jamesmcdonnell
emallini wrote: ↑27 Sep 2021, 12:42
jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑27 Sep 2021, 09:25
emallini wrote: ↑27 Sep 2021, 09:16
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?
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 13:17
by 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.
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 13:26
by 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
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 14:02
by maverick23
jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑27 Sep 2021, 08:54
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.
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 14:44
by 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.
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 14:49
by KiwiRider
Monzon83 wrote: ↑27 Sep 2021, 14:44
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
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 16:05
by rd350lc
IRONFIST wrote: ↑27 Sep 2021, 09:54
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 .
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 16:15
by rd350lc
peter barlow wrote: ↑27 Sep 2021, 13:17
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 ?
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 16:25
by 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.
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 16:46
by 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.
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 17:00
by 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 .
Re: Is AJ's head in the game
Posted: 27 Sep 2021, 17:11
by MasterG
Too many painful memories of being chinned and dropped. His bottle has gone