Frank Warren, promoter of Tyson Fury, is raining his eyebrows at the conversation of Anthony Joshua pushing forward with a planned rematch against Andy Ruiz.
Earlier this month, Joshua was dropped four times and stopped in the seventh round by huge underdog Andy Ruiz, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
"Joshua’s had his loss, he’s had his ass whooped. Should he even be going back into a rematch? Maybe he should take some time out. Recuperate and make some dramatic decisions about his team," Warren told Metro.co.uk. "I’d be seriously thinking about saying no to the rematch, because I don’t know if mentally Joshua can be right for it. I would seriously consider changing his trainer, and a lot of his team. His entourage is gigantic."
Joshua has exercised a rematch clause, with the second fight likely to take place in the fall of this year on UK soil.
Warren is firm on Joshua needing a new trainer to guide his way.
And the veteran promoter outlined a series of events which led to Joshua's superstar rise in the UK - which Warren now believes has dwindled heavily in the wake of his defeat.
"Barry Hearn calls boxing a business, but it’s only a business because of what he does in the ring. If you don’t win, then you’ve got to look at your team and ask them to justify what they do," Warren said.
"I’d want my fighter to be pissed off about a defeat. He seemed to me like a weight had been lifted. Joshua’s guard is just too low. I’ve said it so many times, we know his vulnerabilities. We’re watching his fights all the time. The strengths are obvious and it’s the weaknesses you look for. Joshua is too easy to hit. I don’t think Rob McCracken has taught him anything about defence.
"Joshua clicked with the British public. Joshua is clearly very deliberate in all his moves, but he’s had a few breaks in this sport. He had favourable judging at the London Olympics and then he got to fight Charles Martin, the worst heavyweight champion ever in my opinion, for a world title. And he only got that opportunity because Fury vacated his titles.
"I’ve been asked a lot this week, is the Fury-Joshua fight gone? I think it all depends on the rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr. Ruiz has taken Joshua’s place at the heavyweight table. No matter what anybody says about the value of Joshua, I don’t know what he brings to the table anymore."
2023-10-23 12:42:03
