Anthony Joshua’s new trainer won’t be able to ‘install the I’mma bite down and go for this and the chin’ against Usyk, according to top heavyweight rival. Is right?

Jared Anderson was sceptical of Anthony Joshua’s chances of an upturn in fortunes against Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch. ‘I don’t think (Garcia) is going to be install anything in AJ that is a dog’. Jared Anderson told Tha Boxing Voice (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xP24f5fCOdQ…)

Jared Anderson Quote Breakdown

He also expanded on the fighting qualities that he believe Joshua will be lacking come August 20th, ‘he’s not going to be able to install that oh I’mma bite down and go for this and he’s not going to install the chin’. Jared Anderson also mentioned virtues such as grit and heart as other things that cannot be installed, as you are born with them, implying that he also believes Joshua to be deficient in those departments.

Joshua was rocked to his boots by Dillian Whyte in his first big test as a heavyweight but went on to win, he was also knocked down by Wladimir Klitschko but went on to win. But he was stopped by Andy Ruiz emphatically and out on his feet against Usyk. While many critics and naysayers have cast doubt on the mental fortitude and toughness of Joshua.

It cannot be disputed that Joshua is fallible, Ruiz and Usyk exposed his vulnerability to fast hands and slick boxing, respectively. However, any heavyweight can be knocked out and Joshua has proven he can overcome adversity in the past. Also, he shipped a fair amount of punishment at the end of the fight against Usyk and remained upright. So, against a most likely lighter Usyk (given weight loss experienced by living through a war), his chin isn’t his biggest obstacle to success.

His mental headspace is also something that can be disparaged unjustly. He showed heart and grit in the Klitschko fight and he immediately wrote the wrong of the Ruiz fight, just like he is trying to do with Usyk. What Anderson and other sceptics of Joshua’s character and chin should pay greater mind to is his ability to solve the enigma of Usyk’s ring IQ, in which lies AJ’s biggest challenge.

By Harry Duffy

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