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AJ needs to show he's prepared to be a front foot wrecking machine again. Time will tell if he's still prepared to take a few to land the big one. As Hagler said, it's hard to get up in the morning when you sleep in silk sheets.

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Joshua going 2 - 3 in his last 5 fights looks worse than it actually is imo. The 3 loses not being as bad as they seem.

Anyone who had followed Joshua's fights from his debut onwards could tell, just by looking at him, that he had something wrong with him before even stepping into the ring to fight Ruiz at MSG.

He said there had been a health problem when interviewed by Steve Bunce and Mike Costello after the Ruiz rematch win. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEiI5c2iUDY

However, Joshua didn't want to make it common knowledge because he said he didn't want to make excuses - a good example, that Ruiz didn't want to follow after losing the rematch.

In Joshua's other two loses he faced someone who was simply too fast and too skilled for him.

A fighter who could go down as an ATG. A fighter who had surprised Joshua, in their first fight, by making little effort against Witherspoon and Chisora to appear there for the taking.

BTW anyone who genuinely thinks Usyk's level of fitness and skills were exactly the same for the Witherspoon, Chisora & Joshua fights should probably follow another sport.

I like the combination of Derrick James and Joshua as there does appear to be similarities between Spence, the Charlo's and Joshua as fighters. Of course it will take several fights with his new trainer to see James' influence on AJ. However Joshua MUST beat Franklin tonight and probably needs to do it convincingly. If Joshua loses he said he will retire - which is the only reasonable course of action he'll have, unless the loss is due to a weird injury scenario.

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Josh has been exposed as not having the ring mentality to fight thru adversity, not having the heart the determination of any kind of a decent professional fighter. He was n is part of the hype of hearn as i see it. If you want to specualte as to what is wrong with the guy i will. He is too far into the body building mentallity, boxing is not about that-- conditioning yes body make up is using what you were born with in the ring. If you have power use it develop it, if you have a natural gift for reaction use it, if you have easy defensive movements work on them. Learn your skills before you turn pro not after. Then learn to impose your will on any fighter you run into. That takes skill, skill development, a fighter mentality being able to go deep and dig out what you do not have on any night. he has none of that. Josh has been undone by a puncher Ruiz, by a elusive boxer, a fighter that knows himself in the ring talking Uysk. His beating Ruiz in the rematch was nothing at all Ruiz was more fat and lazy then usual, Josh ran around more then he should have allowed himself to but he was so full of fear he had to run. His other fights dont get me started, And that melt down in his last fight was a man who knew nothing of himself. This fight he will learn nothing but how to count money and listen to his Friend Hearn. ..... Glad to hear from you Ozzy.

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Totally disagree - I've heard all that sort of thing from Joshua haters.

First of all you don't become World Amateur Silver medallist and Olympic Gold Medallist, & win 3 Professional World Titles (twice) without having determination - it's ridiculous to think you can get to that level in amateur and professional boxing and not have ever displayed determination in the ring.

If Joshua hasn't got a fighter's mentality then it's amazing that he achieved so much and still probably has the best resume of any of the top heavyweights - tell me who has a sequence of a dozen or so consecutive fights better than Joshua's.

Also I don't know what you mean by "a body building mentality" - but maybe that comes from his appearance rather than anything specific you know about him.

The basic skills are the same for both amateur and professional boxing but the fact is that you have to develop certain other skills in each. You don't become the finished article before turning professional - which is what you've suggested above. All professionals have to develop their skills while fighting as professionals. If you've seen Joshua's first 15 fights as a professional then you'll have seen his development from the amateur code.

As for the Ruiz rematch, Joshua was under a lot of pressure - his career was at stake - that's why he boxed Ruiz. He didn't "run" - that's what boxing fans say when a fighter doesn't stand still and allow the opponent to hit them. What you call "fear", I call "intelligence" as Joshua boxed in the best way to win and regain the belts without any possibility of losing.

It clearly didn't suit some fans but for Joshua that's not what he was there for - he wanted to be absolutely certain he got the belts back. It was up to Ruiz to stop him from doing that.

Joshua isn't the best heavyweight in the world but I think most fair-minded boxing fans would say he's been a pretty talented one. Maybe his days are numbered now though.

I've followed Joshua's career from his amateur days through to now and I'm baffled as to where your opinions of him have come from - of course you're entitled to your opinion.

However, this is something we'll just have to agree to disagree about.

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No you got me there "he didnt run" as you said. He skipped like a little school girl thru the whole damn thing. I mean we just see things dif is all you have compassion for Josh bc he was going thru things i got zero for him on that count. He is not what he said he was or even close to what he might have been in the ring. A few more fights and he will be forgotten.

A body builders mentality is making yourself all about apprearances is what i meant by that observation. I am sure you do not agree with me on that either, we will see with time how it unfolds. As far as pointing at me as a "hater" i damn near take that personal almost like an attack on my character, and you know i am a character Ozzy. Ha Ha Ha. Truth is i give some thought with experince about what i say. Hater is one of those words like calling someone a casual as if we do not need casual fans we do . Let them be casual about the sport of boxing why not ? Other sports have casual fans but in boxing a casual is an insult like calling a man a dummy. Hey just cuss i say dumb stuff dont make me a dummy. Get it ? You are what you do not what you say Ozzy. Josh n Eddie talk a good show but in the ring ? What happened with Franklin more talk about why he could not do what he was expected to do. Talk about the fight after the fight . OHHH they almost hit each other after the final bell. THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT AND DONE IT REPEATEDLY DURING THE FIGHT OZZY. you get my point disappointment dont mean hate it means seeing the truth and the lie that lies underneath it. Lets talk up coming fights and let this josh thing go. Unless you want to waste more time on it.

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I will address your take on Josh in time not this morning bc i have to roll out shortly. Glad you disagree with me shows an old fight fan attitude appreciate that. Be glad to hit you up later about what you see and what i see in with Josh. Let me say this tho i see dif things in Josh then you do. you may be blinded by your own enthusiasm for all i know. But there is no hate for Josh for his actions in the ring yes, for his willingness to pretend he is something he is not, there is a struggle with that guy, he has never looked into who he is to move forward in the ring for past several years. Hanging with a promo guy who lets you not challenge yourself is not a good idea for someone like Josh. Has Josh reached his level of incompetence and is in the ring and has been in the ring for pure money motives and nothing more ? Looks like it to me. Thanks again Ozzy.

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