Last night, Anthony Joshua went the distance with Jermaine Franklin for 12 rounds and got the win by a unanimous decision.
This wasn't what he had in mind, though, as he once said that he would've loved to end the fight with a knockout.
We hoped that by now AJ would've worked through his inner demons and reverted to his brawling style where he let his right hand loose more often, but he still seemed stiff and hesitant in there with Franklin.
He gave a better performance than in his last fight with Usyk by throwing some combination punches at Jermaine Franklin. Still, it seemed like his fears still restrains him from going all out.
He would use a powerful jab to keep Franklin at bay all night, and when the timing is right, he would land a solid right hand.
But that's it.
He lands the solid right hand and then relaxes instead of following up. Franklin, however, retaliates with counterpunches whenever AJ lands a right hand, missing most but occasionally landing some clean shots to AJ.
It was only once or twice that AJ followed up the solid right hand with powerful combination punches. And you could feel him imposing his will and power on the smaller Jermaine Franklin.
If only it continued like that because that dominance would last some seconds before he reverts to his unnatural, defensive style.
Will this be enough to face Tyson Fury? As Anthony Joshua intends on taking Fury next.
Not really.
The version of AJ that gets a shot at Tyson Fury is the brawler, the big man who isn't afraid to throw his weight around in the ring and let his hands go wild.
Not the AJ who is trying to box technically and defensively, because he's still throwing punches through the trauma registered on his brain from a prior knockout.
Only AJ can save himself at this point, and push out that stubborn fear of brain concussion that got into him and is refusing to leave.
Congrats to Anthony Joshua on his win last night. At least, his confidence level has inched higher.
. I didn't watch the bout, but I don't think Joshua is ready to face Fury or Wilder yet.
Yeah, that's true. He's a few years too early to face Fury
