Barry Hearn of Matchroom says Anthony Joshua continues to be decided to avenge his two losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Nonetheless Haunted by Usyk
Joshua, 34, continues to be bitter over his two defeats in opposition to Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) in 2020 and 2021. They wrecked followers’ perceptions of him as an invincible top-of-the-shelf heavyweight, exposing him as a mentally fragile fighter who’s outboxed.
If Joshua fights Usyk a 3rd, he might reside to remorse it as a result of I don’t assume he’ll be capable of deal with a 3rd defeat in opposition to the proficient Ukrainian. We noticed AJ melting down mentally contained in the ring after his defeat in opposition to Usyk in 2022, grabbing and tossing his belts.
Joshua appeared like he had utterly misplaced his senses and had a wild look in his eyes. In the event that they battle once more, safety must be prepared to leap within the ring to manage Joshua if he loses. He appeared like he was able to doing something at that second. I imply, something.
Sadly, AJ (28-3, 25 KOs) might not get the possibility to face his two-time conqueror Usyk if he fails to defeat IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois of their headliner on September 14th at Wembley Stadium in London, England.
If Joshua loses that battle, he’ll be busy making an attempt to avenge the defeat in a rematch, and that would go simply as badly in opposition to the younger knockout artist Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs), who can do just about the whole lot AJ can however is far harder.
Dubois is extra rugged than Joshua and constructed for all times on the frontlines of struggle. In a back-and-forth shootout, Dubois is arguably extra mentally robust to deal with that type of a battle than Joshua, who crumbles beneath strain. Dropping to Dubois twice will erase any probabilities of Joshua dealing with Usyk to avenge one in every of his two defeats.
“He needs to beat Usyk as a result of, within the first battle he had with Usyk, frankly, he got here out second greatest. He went away, he regrouped, he discovered, he studied and he nonetheless received beat within the second battle. That’s why he received so upset within the second battle,” stated Barry Hearn to Sky Sports activities Information about Anthony Joshua desirous to avenge his two defeats in opposition to Oleksandr Usyk.
The Psychological Toll of Defeat
It’s received to be robust on Joshua to reside together with his two losses to Usyk, however he’s received to come back to phrases with these defeats. He wasn’t adequate, and that’s simply how it’s. Preventing him a 3rd time might smash him, leaving him only a psychological shell of the particular person he was earlier than the battle.
“These folks wish to win, and so they need a legacy. I don’t assume Anthony Joshua will sleep at evening till he’s unified,” stated Hearn.
