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Boxing

Former world champion explains how Anthony Joshua has changed since Andy Ruiz defeat

Former world champion explains how Anthony Joshua has changed since Andy Ruiz defeatDAZN

 

Former world champion Sergio More explained how Anthony Joshua’s approach to fighting has changed over the years.

Joshua made it two wins from two as he continued his comeback from double defeats to Oleksandr Usyk last weekend, knocking out Robert Helenius.

He had beaten Jermaine Franklin back in April, and now is likely to fight former WBC champion Deontay Wilder, potentially in January, which could earn him another title fight if he wins.

Joshua burst onto the scene as an aggressive fighter but after a defeat to Andy Ruiz back in 2019, he has modified his style, and is now working with American trainer Derrick James.

Speaking to the DAZN Boxing Show , Mora reflected on the performance to beat Helenius, and also how the win may help him get back to the top.

He said: “It was a solid but shaky 6.5. I can concentrate on the negatives here, but I like to look at the positive. He got the knockout and he did it in the true heavyweight tradition, he got it with that one-punch knockout we all like to see from the big man.

“But it took longer than we expected and Deontay Wilder did it in one round. We expected Joshua to do it in three rounds considering he was a late replacement. But he went into the second half of the fight, and not only that, Joshua didn’t look sure of himself. A little bit of doubt in his face, a little timid to get hit in the face.

“He got the job done, now he did against Jermain Franklin going the distance, now he got the big knockout, giving the confidence and the juices flowing. Getting that highlight reel, getting that swagger back.

“AJ is going to be fine. Derrick James is a work in progress with him. Both of them are learning to build trust with each other. 

“We’re not gonna see that punishing knockout puncher that was aggressive, that threw combinations, that threw caution to the wind, that put him in the position to get hit as well. We’re not going to see that guy anymore, after what Andy Ruiz did to him, even [Kubrat] Pulev hit him a couple of times. He already got that chin checked. There’s still doubt, that doubt lingers, so he’s forced to evolve into something else.”

 

 

 
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