Former unified super-middleweight champion, Carl Froch, has recently spoke out on the career of Anthony Joshua, who’s career has taken a hit following back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.
Froch fought in twelve consecutive title fights before retiring in 2014 and similarly, Joshua has also had a run of twelve back-to-back world title clashes, but will be fighting in his first contest without a belt on the line for over seven years when he returns to action next month.
With three losses in his last five fights, there is no doubt that ‘AJ’ must win on his return if he is to make his way back to the top of the heavyweight division.
On his YouTube channel, Froch believes that the shock defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019 was the moment that changed Joshua’s mindset.
“Unfortunately, he lost to Andy Ruiz. That loss to Ruiz took a part of his soul, destroyed him, made him nervous.
OK, in the rematch he got the win, he outboxed him in Saudi by moving and keeping safe to get the points win, but it wasn’t a performance that convinced me that he believes in himself. He was fighting scared, on his back foot and did what he had to do to get the win, fair play to him.”
The surprise defeat to Ruiz goes down as one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight history, and many believe there has been an evident change in Joshua’s style ever since.
Joshua has since twice changed his trainer as he seeks to get back to his aggressive best and will have 2017 Trainer of the Year, Derrick James in his corner when he makes his comeback.
Joshua will fight for the first time under James’ guidance as he takes on Jermaine Franklin on April 1st at the O2 Arena, with the event being streamed live on DAZN.