Derek Chisora is a stalwart on the British heavyweight scene, and knows the top dogs better than most.
Having fought three times against Tyson Fury and trained frequently with Anthony Joshua, there are few men in the sport better placed to speak to their mindsets.
Joshua has been accused of lacking desire for some time now, with many saying a more reserved style proves that he isn’t keen on committing in fights.
Fury, more recently, was questioned when he went ten rounds with MMA star and pro boxing debutant, Francis Ngannou, with some saying he didn’t have the motivation to train properly.
Chisora was asked specifically about Joshua recently, and sided with the pundits who think there has been a change in his mentality.
Speaking on the Up Front podcast, the veteran heavyweight likened his friend’s journey to a Hollywood film before saying that the ‘hunger is gone.’
“Boxing is like a Rocky film. Rocky was winning everything, then he boxed Mr T and he stopped running at six o’clock in the morning.
I think my brother has made enough money now that the hunger is gone. The hunger is gone. He wants to be a three-time world champion and I will help him to get there, but the hunger in himself I think is gone.”
Despite that observation, Chisora does believe Joshua has it in him to achieve the three-time goal.
“Yeah he can do it. He will do it because that will make him amazing, great.”
A win over Otto Wallin on December 23 makes him number two with the IBF.
With that belt expected to become vacant following Oleksandr Usyk’s undisputed fight with Tyson Fury, the sanctioning body has made it clear that the top two challengers – Filip Hrgovic and Joshua in this scenario – will fight for the vacant title.
Whether ‘AJ’s team opt for that route over a more-intriguing but title-lacking bout with Deontay Wilder remains to be seen.