
Anthony Joshua has now lost four fights in his professional career.
The last one, to Daniel Dubois, likely stings the most.
The criticism and commentary have been coming in droves.
Did Joshua have a bad night against Dubois?
“No, you don’t have an off night getting the s**t kicked out of you that way,” replied promoter Bob Arum. “I think AJ has been in a lot of wars. I think it’s over for him as well as over for Wilder. Maybe they can fight each other.”
Wilder, as in Deontay, like Joshua, a former heavyweight champion, was flattened a few months ago by big Zhilei Zhang. The fight was a slow-paced chess match, with occasional action, until Zhang dropped the hammer in round five. Wilder has been missing in action since. Wilder looks closer to the finish line than Joshua. His three fights with Tyson Fury dented more than his psyche. Against Zhang and Joseph Parker, he looked lost in the ring. How could that be after 40 professional fights?
Joshua also lacked fire and appeared to be going through the motions against Dubois. Something was off.
“AJ did things that Ben (Davison) didn’t tell him to do,” said Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn. “He pulled back in a straight line with his chin in the air, his hand position. You know, all this kind of stuff.”
Hearn isn’t wrong. Joshua was there to be hit, and Dubois obliged him. Over and over. Joshua appeared to have forgotten how to duck.
Trainer Davison has been criticized for his handling of Joshua during the fight.
Hearn, though, won’t hear of it.
“I mean [Davison] gets all the praise for his last couple of performances,” Hearn said.”
True, but is it accurate?
Joshua looked sharp in his last two fights. After a meltdown against Oleksandr Usyk a few years ago, Joshua had rebuilt his sense of being. He was confident. Perhaps it was a mirage.
Former super middleweight champion Carl Froch was hardly impressed.
A few months ago, he labeled Joshua’s last four opponents as, “Four people who were coming to the ring, not really looking to beat were there to get paid.”
After the Dubois debacle, Froch suggested that Joshua hang up the gloves.
Barry McGuigan agreed.
“AJ should retire,” McGuigan said. “His punch resistance has evaporated and he will destroy his previous achievements by carrying on. When your ability to hold a shot goes, it never comes back. Time for AJ to exit.”
Easier said than done. Retirement and boxers is often complicated. Some can do it. Rocky Marciano was 32 when he waved goodbye. Andre Ward 33.
Anthony Joshua is 34. He’s boxed 32 times as a professional. Never very spry on his feet, Joshua labored against Dubois. He never fully recovered from being knocked down in the first round. Gutsy, yes, but his timing was off. He looked sluggish.
Joshua recently said his career is not over.
“Of course, I want to continue fighting,” Joshua said.
Hearn has said that Joshua wants a rematch against Dubois.
Good move or suicide?
We’ll see.
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