I do believe Joshua is regressing and has been gun-shy since the Ruiz loss. For once I don't agree with Christie — I think Wilder's style means he is happy to lose rounds with little consequence. He'll land on Joshua at some point and it'll be good night.
Yes indeed, Lewis, I added Matt's tweet to be a little provocative. I also cannot conceive of Joshua going through rounds without sampling the power and once he does it'll be over. As you reference, his style (and also mindset) means he'll fully believe the right hand will land at some point. I agree with Wilder.
I think it's a shame that he overshadowed the second Usyk loss with his meltdown on the mic afterwards. I too think he's lacking confidence now, and I've always said he was good but not great... But if he had the right people around him, that performance could have been used as good motivation. All those 'yes men' around him and they still can't steer a narrative, even when there's some legitimacy to it.
He adjusted well after the first defeat and, as Steve says, employed a good strategy overall in the rematch. It's just that Usyk is a serious, elite-level talent (disclaimer; I'm an unapologetic fanboy) and saying he simply had his number would be doing AJ a discredit. He made him work bloody hard.
All that said though. Wilder will absolutely starch him. I don't think I've ever been more sure of an outcome of a fight. But perhaps it's Matt that gets the last laugh with both our of words now out here in the public domain.
Good points, Gary. I expected AJ to get stopped in the Usyk rematch and he did a lot better, especially in the seventh (?) with that extended body assault. For a moment we saw the old aggressive AJ back in the ring. Of course, Garcia was then bombed out and in came Derrick James, a top coach but who garners a style based on taking a few shots. That won't be conducive to a good outcome against Deontay.
AJ has the tools to beat Wilder, most heavyweights do. It's the intangibles that he hasn't proven to have that he'll need. Iron chin, disregard for Wilder's and incredible heart and recovery powers are all needed to beat him and if you're missing just one, Wilder will find it out pretty quickly.
I do believe Joshua is regressing and has been gun-shy since the Ruiz loss. For once I don't agree with Christie — I think Wilder's style means he is happy to lose rounds with little consequence. He'll land on Joshua at some point and it'll be good night.
Yes indeed, Lewis, I added Matt's tweet to be a little provocative. I also cannot conceive of Joshua going through rounds without sampling the power and once he does it'll be over. As you reference, his style (and also mindset) means he'll fully believe the right hand will land at some point. I agree with Wilder.
I think it's a shame that he overshadowed the second Usyk loss with his meltdown on the mic afterwards. I too think he's lacking confidence now, and I've always said he was good but not great... But if he had the right people around him, that performance could have been used as good motivation. All those 'yes men' around him and they still can't steer a narrative, even when there's some legitimacy to it.
He adjusted well after the first defeat and, as Steve says, employed a good strategy overall in the rematch. It's just that Usyk is a serious, elite-level talent (disclaimer; I'm an unapologetic fanboy) and saying he simply had his number would be doing AJ a discredit. He made him work bloody hard.
All that said though. Wilder will absolutely starch him. I don't think I've ever been more sure of an outcome of a fight. But perhaps it's Matt that gets the last laugh with both our of words now out here in the public domain.
Good points, Gary. I expected AJ to get stopped in the Usyk rematch and he did a lot better, especially in the seventh (?) with that extended body assault. For a moment we saw the old aggressive AJ back in the ring. Of course, Garcia was then bombed out and in came Derrick James, a top coach but who garners a style based on taking a few shots. That won't be conducive to a good outcome against Deontay.
Ultimately, as the two of you have added here, both guys will get hit at some point and taste the other's power. Joshua will care. Wilder won't.
AJ has the tools to beat Wilder, most heavyweights do. It's the intangibles that he hasn't proven to have that he'll need. Iron chin, disregard for Wilder's and incredible heart and recovery powers are all needed to beat him and if you're missing just one, Wilder will find it out pretty quickly.
Can't argue with any of that, Mr Deall.
‘Maintaining control within the chaos.’ Brilliantly spotted and well put.
Cheers Des!
I might end up with egg on my face again but I fancy Anthony Joshua against Deontat Wilder if the fight happens.
Interesting! Certainly not out of the realms of possibility but fancy Wilder myself tbh. Confident bordering on delusion and the power is crazy.