10 issues we discovered watching Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua share a hoop for a second time on Saturday evening…
1 Usyk is large enough and ok
Many have been involved Usyk’s heavyweight profession would flatter to deceive on account of him being a cruiserweight transferring up, however he as soon as once more confirmed he’s each large enough and ok to chop bigger males right down to measurement.
2 Glenn Feldman can’t rating fights
Whereas it proved to be a extra aggressive and attention-grabbing battle than the pair’s first, making a case for Joshua truly beating Usyk on Saturday evening reveals an entire lack of information and talent to learn a battle.
3 Physique photographs have been the reply
He didn’t throw sufficient of them, and couldn’t fairly capitalise on the harm they triggered, however Joshua’s resolution to focus on Usyk’s physique was a shrewd one – and almost paid off in spherical 9.
4 Joshua tires when attacking
Not for the primary time, there was a way that every time Joshua had his finest moments within the battle he was additionally at his most weak. This was highlighted within the ninth, in fact, when he had his finest moments but in addition emptied his tank.
5 Place punches, don’t pressure them
Typically Usyk would prod, poke and place his photographs, scoring with them constantly, whereas Joshua, the larger and heavier man, would as a substitute load up on each shot he threw. This left Usyk recent within the ultimate rounds and Joshua exhausted.
6 Jab-less Joshua
For pretty much as good as his physique photographs have been, there was a definite lack of jabs from Joshua all through the battle, a testomony maybe to the top motion and awkward southpaw fashion of Usyk.
7 Usyk’s motion is gorgeous
Of all of the distinctive tips Usyk brings to the heavyweight division, there isn’t a trick extra mesmerising than his head motion and talent to alter ranges and angles. This confused Joshua all through, by no means permitting him to both set or settle.
8 Usyk’s stoicism and composure
Even in moments when it appeared like Joshua was touchdown or getting on prime, by no means was Usyk flustered, by no means did he break character, and by no means did he seem in any actual bother.
9 Joshua was harm and hurting
Misplaced in all of the post-fight chat was the truth that from spherical 10 onwards Joshua was stiffening up, being rocked on his heels, and shortly carrying all of the tell-tale indicators of a harm and concussed fighter. His outburst, subsequently, ought to have stunned no person.
10 Fury or nothing
Whereas all of the speak was of Joshua and what he does subsequent, it was attention-grabbing to listen to Usyk state that the one battle that pursuits him going ahead is one towards Tyson Fury. With out that, he’s accomplished, he mentioned.
