Eddie Hearn insists that Anthony Joshua doesn’t possess a fragile chin heading into his struggle in opposition to IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois on September twenty first.
Net host Simon Jordan mentioned this week that 34-year-old former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua’s chin is weak, and he may crumble if taken into the trenches by the 26-year-old Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs) of their twelve-round headliner at Wembley Stadium in London.
Flashbacks to Previous Battles
There’s some doubt whether or not Joshua could have flashbacks to the worst moments of his profession, when Andy Ruiz, Wladimir Klitschko, and Oleksandr Usyk labored over him.
Jordan talked about the potential of Joshua having PTSD [Post Traumatic Distress Syndrome AKA Battle fatigue]. If that situation does exist, Joshua received’t final lengthy on the battlefield in opposition to Dubois, who might be reigning shells on him and won’t let him retreat to dive right into a foxhole.
It appeared to some like Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) suffered a psychological breakdown following his loss to Usyk on August 20, 2022 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Hearn Dismisses “Fragile” Lab
“AJ has a very good chin. In case you return to the Klitschko struggle, watch these photographs that AJ took from Klitschko in spherical 5,” mentioned Eddie Hearn to Secondsout, denying that Anthony Joshua has a fragile chin.
The Klitschko struggle was a few years in the past, on April 29, 2017. Joshua was simply 27, going up in opposition to 41-year-old Wladimir. In that struggle, Wladimir dropped Joshua arduous within the sixth spherical, and he was so damage that he didn’t get well for 3 rounds.
Most agree that Wladimir made a mistake by letting Joshua off the hook by failing to hearken to his nook to go for the kill in rounds seven, eight and 9.
“Watch the suitable hand that may have decapitated a standard man that AJ acquired up from [in the sixth round and then gassed for the next three rounds]. Within the Ruiz struggle, he stored getting up,” mentioned Hearn.
“Usyk hit him with the kitchen sink, and he by no means had him out. His legs have been by no means gone. He was knackered on the finish, however look what occurred to Tyson Fury. You by no means noticed AJ like that. He [Joshua] acquired hit arduous by [Alexander] Povetkin, and clearly, he acquired hit arduous by Dillian Whyte,” mentioned Hearn.
Joshua’s Stamina and Chin: A Recurring Concern
In all of the fights that Hearn mentions, Joshua may have been knocked out if his opponents had continued to unload on him. Usyk damage Joshua within the twelfth spherical of their first struggle in September 2021 however ran out of time to complete the job.
If there was 20 extra seconds left within the twelfth, Usyk would have knocked out Joshua. Whyte gassed out after hurting Joshua within the second spherical and couldn’t get his second wind after that.
“AJ has acquired an incredible chin, however Daniel Dubois hits very arduous and when you get hit on the chin by him, there’s an opportunity you’ll be in hassle,” mentioned Hearn.
Certainly, Hearn is deliberately being obtuse right here as a result of he’s acquired to know that Joshua doesn’t possess a “nice chin,” and his stamina is simply as poor. Joshua’s weaknesses have at all times been his glass chin and his horrible stamina.
Dubois’ Energy: A Important Risk
That’s why he’ll be straightforward pickings for Dubois if he lands one thing clear on him and or pushes a quick tempo that his cardio can’t maintain.
“I don’t get the entire, ‘He’s fragile.’ He acquired hit arduous by Franklin. I do know he’s not an enormous Puncher, however they will all punch. Franklin, Usyk, Povetkin, Parker, Ruiz. The checklist goes on. Dillian Whyte, Wladimir Klitschko, he’s fought everyone. There’s nothing mistaken with AJ’s chin, however these boys can all crack. In the event that they hit clear, it’s going to be an issue,” mentioned Hearn.
You wouldn’t anticipate Hearn to confess that his tin soldier Joshua doesn’t possess an incredible chin. What promoter would admit that his fighter is fragile and will break aside if hit too arduous or taken into the trenches?
