By Charles Brun: Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk says the former twice-beaten IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has nothing to lose going into the rematch on July 23rd.
Joshua’s career is almost on skidrow heading into oblivion, and no matter what type of positive picture his promoter Eddie Hearn tries to paint to the boxing public, it can’t disguise the reality of what the 32-year-old is up against when he faces Usyk this summer in the Middle East.
With nothing to lose, it’s a dead certainty that Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) will go for broke early, likely to bum rush Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) straight out of the gate, hoping to use his size & power to crush the smaller, weaker three-belt heavyweight champion before he has a chance to get warmed up.
Hearn hasn’t mentioned what’s on the line for the controversial 2012 Olympic gold medalist Joshua, but it’s pretty evident that if he loses this fight against Usyk, it’s game over.
If you’re Hearn, this would be a good time for him to make the fight as festive as possible in terms of ring-walk, music, and the whole work because there’s a good chance this will be the final fight of Joshua’s career.
That would be Joshua’s third defeat in his last five fights, putting him in the same league as journeyman Derek Chisora.
What’s suitable for Chisora isn’t going to be for Joshua because he’s got too much pride to lose repeatedly without hanging up his gloves rather than watching his career turn into a cruel joke in the eyes of boxing fans.
“Anthony Joshua has nothing to lose, nothing at all; he’s not fighting under the pressure of his compatriots, of his home, of his belts,” said Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk to Sky Sports.
“The only pressure he has is that if he [Joshua] loses, it might sort of be the end of his career.
“He has the experience of facing Usyk, so probably has new things in his mind, new tricks to present. My anticipation is that it will be even harder this time,” said Krassyuk.
If Joshua is in denial, he can continue his career after a second loss to Usyk, but it’s difficult to imagine him being able to turn things around.
To be sure, Joshua can take a big broom and sweep out his new training team from his gym, but the reality is that nothing is going to change no matter how many trainers AJ shuffles in & out of his camp.
You hate to say it, but Joshua’s chin is too fragile, stamina too poor & his self-confidence nowhere to be found.
“After he [Usyk] defends his title [against Joshua], he will probably want to go for undisputed, and you never know if it’s going to be Tyson Fury or if he definitely takes the final decision to retire and the belt is vacated,” said Krassyuk.
I wouldn’t count on Fury if I were Krassyuk; he looks like he doesn’t want it any longer.
