Does Joshua starting late at age 18 explain why he was helpless against Usyk in technical boxing?

[billeau2]

TBH, I think with AJ it usually comes down to his mental state. He loses the fight in his head before he ever gets in the ring.

Some of that is a lack of confidence. If you really don't have confidence in what you're doing it will show when the pressure is on.

[billeau2]

I believe Joshua is a well-skilled boxer with big power. However, I also believe that Usyk is an excellently skilled boxer, and Joshua just cannot seem to beat the guy. I believe he keeps trying to alter his game, which in itself may cause him problems, because it's such a stark departure from what got him to the championship level. While evolving as a boxer may be beneficial, trying to learn a new style can be detrimental. I agree with you though; Joshua lost to one of the best in the business, and not by a large margin. He deserves credit for that.

You say above " Joshua keeps trying to alter his game. " That's an excellent observation actually. Again it comes down to someone understanding the real essence of simplicity. It's not a bad thing.

So naturally Joshua sees how technically lacks certain skills while he fights Usyk... He makes an assumption that this has to do with his own technical inabilities. If you notice a fighter like Marciano would never make such an assumption. He fought fighters like Archie Moore who were really making him look like an amateur for a lot of the rounds yet he never changed his approach.

Yes looking at the fight it's hard for Joshua to understand what was close and where he was really lacking unless he can do so objectively.

[SUBZER0ED]

You say above " Joshua keeps trying to alter his game. " That's an excellent observation actually. Again it comes down to someone understanding the real essence of simplicity. It's not a bad thing.

So naturally Joshua sees how technically lacks certain skills while he fights Usyk... He makes an assumption that this has to do with his own technical inabilities. If you notice a fighter like Marciano would never make such an assumption. He fought fighters like Archie Moore who were really making him look like an amateur for a lot of the rounds yet he never changed his approach.

Yes looking at the fight it's hard for Joshua to understand what was close and where he was really lacking unless he can do so objectively.

Yes, sometimes it's better to stick with what you know, with a tweak here and there. I imagine that AJ hiring different trainers was an attempt to address his deficiencies, but trying to reinvent the wheel doesn't work. And several different points of view can confuse a fighter.

[hugh grant]

That Olympic gold was BS. His opponent got robbed. The wlad win was legit and he had balls back then. He fought like a middleweight against Usyk.

I can't remember much about Olympic final fight, but I remember thinking home advantage is useful.
Wlad really rated Josh though, which made me think wlad might know something the people who criticised Josh didnt.

But I remember Parker saying he boxed from a young age before he fought josh, and at the time I was thinking that might give him the edge. But Josh still best parker?
So we can conclude Josh can best people who've boxed longer than him, as most likely all the fighters Josh beat, had boxed since kids

[pollywog]

I can't remember much about Olympic final fight, but I remember thinking home advantage is useful.
Wlad really rated Josh though, which made me think wlad might know something the people who criticised Josh didnt.

But I remember Parker saying he boxed from a young age before he fought josh, and at the time I was thinking that might give him the edge. But Josh still best parker?
So we can conclude Josh can best people who've boxed longer than him, as most likely all the fighters Josh beat, had boxed since kids

Joshua needed his running shoes and a refs help to 'win' over the distance v Parker. Not even starting boxing in the womb can overcome that.

Joshua also never got close to putting a dent in Parker despite knocking out every one in all his previous fights. He also never gave Parker a rematch and has ducked him ever since.

[hugh grant]

Joshua needed his running shoes and a refs help to 'win' over the distance v Parker. Not even starting boxing in the womb can overcome that.

Joshua also never got close to putting a dent in Parker despite knocking out every one in all his previous fights. He also never gave Parker a rematch and has ducked him ever since.

Ha ha, Parker would best josh now for real