Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius

[Memphis]

One thing I did notice is that AJ has lost his ability to counter punch

Look at the Charles Martin right hand counter he landed over Martins jab then look at the multiple opportunities he had to land a similar shot against Helenius.

I've stayed away from 'the old Joshua' comments for the most part because people generally want to see him treat a guy like Usyk the way he did someone like Breazeale, it's apples and oranges.

In Helenius case this is 100% fair game. He absolutely could have countered and you could see the openings come and go whilst Joshua did nothing. In fact you could see Joshua see the openings come and go. He absolutely could have thrown the fluid one two that flattened Zumbano Love so decisively but he wouldn't let it go. Instead, he did a terrible job of convincing himself that he was committed to it.

He talks a good game. Leave me alone, let me do my thing in here. I don't believe he is doing his thing at all and I don't believe he believes it either.

[Master]

AJ was marginally better this time and that must because of the work he has put in with his new trainer.

However he has had a major crisis of confidence and regressed since he fought Usyk. He is slowly building up his confidence but another fight before Wilder will not improve him enough to be certain he can beat Wilder.

I have always thought he can beat Wilder but do not know now. If AJ goes for the blow out he could get taken out by Wilder as he hesitates too much. If he boxes, waits for Wilder to tire and then take him out it risks AJ getting caught.

AJ wants another pay day and then face Wilder. Eddie looked very worried and will try and get another fight for him if he can.

Win or lose against Wilder, AJ will always have the fight with Tyson Fury in his back pocket. It will always sell.

AJ has 2 or 3 fights left in his career.

[Primo Carnera]

I can see the reason for this AJ “crisis of confidence” thing.
He has been made to doubt himself because He has been basically put in his box TWICE by Usyk.
He now knows he can’t beat Usyk.
But I see no reason to think he is concerned about fighting Wilder or Fury. I genuinely think he believes he has the beating of them, and anyone else apart from Usyk.
It would be very easy to walk away with all the money he’s got.
So why doesn’t he? Because he is “CONFIDENT” he can beat Wilder and Fury.
Wilder has ducked the fight previously, and been handed his ass on a plate by Fury.
Fury is fighting MMA guys instead of unifying belts against Usyk, despite Usyk accepting 30%.
And nobody, but nobody is questioning their “confidence or headspace.”
Can anyone see the hypocrisy yet?

[Spicoli]

Only caught the highlights so going similar to Franklin fight he does strike me a little gun shy more physically. Cannot get into a mans head and imo his behavior post Usyk II opened up his mental make up and confidence more than his lack of pressing attack or hesitancy in fights he’s fully dominating. He has these gaps where he’s just this brooding drama king. Even the weigh in stuff with Helenius was odd. It’s also very likely and almost goes unsaid, it’s likely he in spots just cannot pull the trigger like he had prior. Clearly he’s seeing the openings. Anyone sitting in the parking lot saw the openings on Franklin and Helenius. He’s filling up more with the still very good power jab though. And if Wilder is in any consideration that’s the punch that’ll give Wilder hell. As a fan that’s a much needed fight and for all the questions and evacuations AJ has his way Wilder is still open to equal scrutiny. Simple as one is fighting/active and one is not. No matter the lore and written legend of Wilders ‘Thor’s hammer’ a man with 1 lone win in going on 4 years ! and was a waking concussion in his two fights prior has everything plus some to answer.

[ykdadamaja]

Great KO. But will Wilder let Joshua get that close to him to land that shot he did on Helenius? lolol....

[X]

He is a guy who has fallen out of love with the sport.

He used to talk about his place in history, and was clearly proud to be where he was. Much less so now. He never mentions that anymore, he said people in the crowd (his paying customers) didn’t understand boxing, he said it’s all about him and the process and he blathered on about ‘the brand’.

I wonder if he just broke psychologically after Ruiz, and Usyk finished the job off. That wasn’t a fighter talking at the post fight press conference, it was an athlete who just happens to be a boxer. He is in it only for the money now and I wonder if the Wilder fight will be his cash out?

[palmerq]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/66623019

I thought helenius looked more lively than usual and at 39. Great stuff though, whyte is pulled for a drug test then helenius fails one too