Seen on:
as known from New York Timesas known from USA Todayas known from yahoo!
VA

What’s it all about Anthony Joshua?

Publish Date: 10/03/2024
Fact checked by: Mike Goodpaster

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.

Read Also
Daniel Dubois shows Anthony Joshua his time has come
As Daniel Dubois, he of two controversial losses, made his way to ...
Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89)
Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals ...
Bet365 Promo
The Complexities of Bob Knight: The Greatest Coach of All-Time?
  Bob Knight, born in 1940 and raised in Orrville, Ohio, was ...
Michael Nunn and Iran Barkley Discuss Their Bout, Bob Arum, and the Four Kings
Mountains to Climb, Pebbles in Your Shoe β€œI always say that was ...
Peter Maher: An Irish Tribute
INTRO: I was seriously ill in 2018 with 7 nights in the ...
Ranking the top 200 players in the NFL ahead of the 2021 season
This list isn’t based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. ...
Top 100 NFL free agents entering the 2021 offseason
Below is a list of the top 100 free agents available this ...
Lady Tyger’s Tale: How Marian Trimiar Mauled the Boxing Establishment of the 1970s and 80s
To Feed the Ambition in Your Heart is Like Carrying a Tiger ...
The Army Boxer Who Knocked-Down Muhammad Ali (1960)
I had wanted to write a boxing story about Junebug Hudson for ...
Deontay Wilder: The Great Black Hype has been exposed
Boxing is a business that doesn't mind creating an illusion of greatness. ...
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....

21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.
Virginia Town HallCloudflareSSL
Close
Our Sports Pros recommend these awesome sports betting sites this week:
BetMGM
BetMGM Bonus
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
T&Cs apply, 21+
Promo Code:
Go to BetMGM
Get Bonus
FanDuel
FanDuel Bonus
Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
T&Cs apply, 21+
Promo Code:
Go to FanDuel
Get Bonus
Bet365
Bet365 Bonus
Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5!
T&Cs apply, 21+
Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Promo Code:
Go to Bet365
Go to Bet365
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Play now