Anthony Joshua is the biggest loser from step aside talks falling through, says BenchWarmers’ Ultimate Fight Corner editor Jamie Wilkinson.
Cast your minds back to that sobering evening in North London at the tail end of September, during which Anthony Joshua was majorly outclassed by Oleksandr Usyk and subsequently surrendered his heavyweight titles.
Joshua had rebuilt his reputation after being stopped by Andy Ruiz Jr on his U.S debut, only for it all to come tumbling down on home turf. You could be forgiven for thinking that it was a blow he wouldn’t be able to recover from.
AJ didn’t disgrace himself in defeat, despite suffering immense disappointment, but during an interview conducted with iFL TV, he looked lost. The 2012 Olympic gold medallist was unable to provide convincing answers to the questions posed to him.
What followed wasn’t particularly surprising, with reports from publications such as the Independent confirming that there was consideration from his side to step aside from the rematch with Usyk and allow the Ukrainian to fight Tyson Fury.
Not only would Joshua be granted more time to regain confidence, build an understanding with a new trainer and strategise against Usyk, but he’d also be given the opportunity to fight the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world to earn that status for himself.
When you factor in the financial benefits of taking a step aside sum, you can see why both Joshua and Eddie Hearn would entertain the proposition. However, it wasn’t to be. Tyson Fury will now be fighting WBC mandatory Dillian Whyte instead.
That forces Joshua into the rematch with Usyk, a rematch which he perhaps wouldn’t have been his first choice a fortnight ago. The clock is ticking to stage the fight and for Joshua to ramp up his preparations.
Granted, the game plan was horribly wrong in September and that cost Joshua dearly, but it remains to be seen if a tweak to the strategy could close the gap in quality between the pair in such a short period of time.
Joshua, though, no longer has a choice. He has to fight Usyk again, likely before June, and has to win in order to keep his name in the conversation as the heavyweight division seeks an undisputed champion.
Followers of his perhaps wouldn’t have been so keen on the idea of him sacrificing his rematch with Usyk, at least not initially, but as time progressed it began to look as though it was the most logical option for him.
That option has evaded him, with the two-time heavyweight champion of the world now fighting to save his career when he rematches a man who outclassed him like no other fighter has previously.
It’s a precarious situation.
