The criticism Anthony Joshua receives should be welcomed and used to “fuel him” going ahead.
Simon Jordan of talkSPORT says as much, complimenting AJ on his triumph over Otto Wallin last month.
In order to build up a fight with Deontay Wilder in March, Joshua decisively defeated his opponent.
But Wilder didn’t live up to the agreement; on the same show in Saudi Arabia, he was defeated by Joseph Parker.
Although AJ’s future is still unknown, it appears that he will get more favorable press in 2024 than he did in 2023 due to his dismal comeback efforts after losing to Oleksandr Usyk twice in a row.
Although AJ’s future is still unknown, it appears that he will get more favorable press in 2024 than he did in 2023 due to his dismal comeback efforts after losing to Oleksandr Usyk twice in a row.
“The irony of Anthony’s position about the unfair criticism he gets is [that] it’s probably an energy he can fuel himself with,” Jordan said at the outset of the talkSPORT talkBOXING podcast.
“Because, let’s be honest, he doesn’t need to fight economically.
“He wants to compete to have the chance to become the world’s heavyweight champion three times.”
“Therefore, whatever is motivating him—the notion that he has been written off—he defeated Wallin and did so convincingly, and that is all he is capable of.
“I believe he ought to build on the compliment from that and accept it.
“But since I believe it motivates him, he shouldn’t want the criticism to end.”
Spencer Oliver, his co-host, then responded, “I agree with you, and I told Joshua as much in one of our interviews.
“I am aware that he was furious at talkSPORT for their criticism of him.
“Listen, Josh, that’s what good fighters do—you should be feeding off of that,” I added. That’s where your gasoline should be coming from, so go show them incorrect.
“I believe he has accomplished it to some degree.
It’s positive if people are talking about you. For sure, that indicates you’re doing something correctly.
“All you have to do is believe in yourself and turn that negative into a positive,” I said. Don’t worry about what other people think; when the first bell rings, it won’t matter. You just need to go out there and perform.