Eleven months after losing his unified heavyweight championship against Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua and Usyk had an immediate rematch in August 2022. This time around AJ put forth a more spirited effort, but it still was not enough.
Usyk again proved too quick, too skilled, too smart, and too durable. It was another clear and decisive victory for Usyk, although strangely enough, this time around it was officially a split decision. The former two-time champion’s career had reached an all time low, having lost 3 of his last 5 fights.
Less than 2 years later, the script has flipped, and like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Anthony Joshua has resurrected his career. In an 11 month span, between April of last year and this past weekend, AJ has won 4 in a row, which is amazing in a day and age where top heavyweights typically only fight once or twice a year. Last April was when it all started, when AJ won a workmanlike 12 round unanimous decision against Jermaine Franklin. Last August AJ was supposed to have a rematch against Dillian Whyte, but instead he faced late replacement opponent Robert Helenius, whom he knocked out in round 7. Then last December in the main event on the Boxing Day of Reckoning, AJ thoroughly outclassed Otto Wallin, and the fight was stopped by Wallin’s corner after round 5 concluded. And finally last weekend, Joshua made quick work of Francis Ngannou, dropping him 3 times, the last of which resulted in a powerhouse knockout for AJ in round 2.
Meanwhile, WBC and lineal world heavyweight champion is scheduled to square off against unified IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. This rivalry is expected to last at least two fights, and theoretically, the winner of the first fight would become the first undisputed world heavyweight champion since the great Lennox Lewis last held that distinction 25 years ago. Joshua made quick work of his last two opponents, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou, both of whom gave Fury a difficult challenge. In the event Fury wins the rivalry with Usyk, Joshua is perfectly positioning himself as a logical challenger for Tyson Fury, in what would perhaps become the biggest fight in boxing history.
This edition of Rummy’s Corner will provide a quick review of Joshua’s 4 fight winning streak, including his dramatic 2nd round knockout against Francis Ngannout last weekend. Please watch and enjoy the video for one man’s opinion. This is Rummy’s Corner (produced and narrated by Geoffrey Ciani).