Via Jack Tiernan: Colin Hart believes Anthony Joshua will lose the same way he did in his previous bout when he challenges IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk for their rematch on August 20.
Hart feels Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) is a master craftsman, and 32-year-old Joshua couldn’t learn enough in his short time with new coach Robert Garcia to make a difference in the rematch.
Joshua’s strategy is “pitiful’ in the first fight with Usyk, as Hart pointed out, and he was never in control of the fight.
Robert wants Joshua to use his size and strength to overwhelm Usyk in the rematch. Hart doesn’t find that effective because Usyk can resist anything Joshua tries.
Usyk is very observant of what’s going on inside the ring, and he’ll quickly figure out the simple game plan Robert will have for Joshua.
“I can’t see anything but the same result [as the first fight]”Colin Hart said to iFL TV about the rematch between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk. “I think Usyk got him exactly where he wanted, and he knows exactly what Joshua has got.”
The sad thing that Joshua is likely to lose to Usyk again is that boxing fans will never get a chance to watch the Tyson Fury-Joshua fight. Unless Fury and Joshua still want to fight after AJ loses to Usyk again, the two will never fight.
If Fury fought Usyk, he would also lose because he’d become too big and slow, and he wouldn’t be able to rely on him the way he did with Dillian Whyte and Deontay Wilder.
“I know Joshua has a new coach, but I don’t think at the age of 30 he can change Hart said. “It takes time to build a career, and he is who he is and I can’t see him changing.
Hart said of Joshua: “His tactics in the first game were deplorable. “He tried to send a letter to that brilliant technician. He’s so much bigger and stronger than Usyk, he should beat him, but Usyk is a master craftsman.
“Whatever Joshua has, Usyk can counterattack and control the war. I’m surprised the corner should have told him,” Hart said in response to the accusation that Joshua said he thought he had won his first match against Usyk.
“I saw it on television, but for me, Usyk won very comfortably. I know Joshua said he didn’t start controlling after the ninth round.
“I do not believe that. i think he [Usyk] was in control from the first bell, and the angle should have told him. If they really know how to read a match, they should tell him, ‘You have to knock him out to win.’
“He [Joshua] don’t even try to knock him down. Like he said, he thinks he’s Muhammad Ali in it,” Hart said.
