Anthony Joshua may have become a changed man after losing against Oleksandr Usyk via decision on September 25. Joshua has always been respectful towards his opponents. Be it in win or loss, AJ has been a class-act all the time. But he may change his stance for the rematch and is already turning into a heel.
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Following his second pro defeat, AJ sat down with iFL TV and addressed several scenarios going around his career. As the rematch with Usyk is on the line, Joshua has hinted at being violent in his shot at retribution.
Speaking with Kugan Cassius, Anthony Joshua said, “Stay hungry. F*** being humble” (H/T:- Michael Benson)
Once an elite KO-artist, Joshua has earned only 1 KO in the past two years. Since his first fight against Andy Ruiz Jr, Joshua has only stopped Kubrat Pulev in his last four fights, standing at a run of 2-2.
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Ahead of Joshua vs Usyk, it was hard to picture ‘AJ’ losing against a former cruiserweight champion. Several people had imagined that he would stop the Ukrainian great. However, Oleksandr Usyk shocked the world and showcased his brilliance.
The left-handed boxer read Joshua’s mind and outboxed him for all 12-rounds. While Joshua made it to the final round, a few more seconds could have seen him go down against ‘The Cat’.
Anthony Joshua has a lot on the line
Joshua may not have a lot to say regarding his next fight, but he is still an A-lister of the division. Usyk obviously had a great night in the first fight. However, the rematch will be equally important. After the collision, there will be no more talks regarding this Usyk-Joshua rivalry. Hence, it’s a massive opportunity for both men to end the feud with an emphatic display.
There will be a lot of the line for both men as the winner could begin talks with the WBC belt holder for a match in 2022. However, Joshua has a lot more on the line as a defeat in the rematch will eject him from the championship scene.
Reuters
Boxing – WBA, IBF & WBO Heavyweight Titles – Anthony Joshua v Oleksandr Usyk – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain – September 25, 2021 Anthony Joshua reacts after his fight against Oleksandr Usyk Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Given his comments, it seems that besides hunting for a new trainer, he is changing his mindset for this clash as well. Staying hungry is the only way Joshua can turn things around and strive to win.
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