Former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman says Anthony Joshua wants to exchange coach Ben Davison with Lennox Lewis following AJ’s fifth-round knockout loss to Danel Dubois final Saturday evening. Rahman blames Joshua’s defeat on him popping out “passive” in opposition to IBF heavyweight champion Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs), and he feels that was a mistake.
(Credit score: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Rahman feels that Joshua may not get alongside nicely with the previous unified heavyweight champion Lewis, however he thinks he’s the very best man for him at this level to deliver him again.
If Joshua doesn’t need to exchange Ben formally, he can add Lewis as a second coach and have him give pointers. Focusing extra on Lewis could be smart for Joshua, particularly throughout fights.
Lewis would have identified what techniques would work in opposition to Dubois, and at this level, Joshua can’t afford to proceed to lose once more. He wants somebody who has been there, like Lennox. If Joshua chooses to stay it out with Ben Davison due to loyalty, he may very well be sorry later.
There have been stories that Davison advised Joshua to throw two jabs adopted by an uppercut going into the fifth spherical. Joshua was knocked out when he tried to throw an uppercut in spherical 5, which was countered by a proper by Dubois. If that report is appropriate, what a mistake. That was even worse than Joshua popping out within the first spherical and preventing passively.
We nonetheless don’t know if Joshua will select to battle Dubois in a rematch subsequent as a result of his promoter, Eddie Hearn, has talked about wanting him to attend till after the December twenty first battle between unified champion Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury performs out earlier than they resolve whose subsequent.
“The way in which Dubois fights, he is available in with reckless abandon. He is available in with unhealthy intentions, making an attempt to knock you out,” mentioned Hasim Rahman to Fighthype, reacting to Anthony Joshua’s loss to Daniel Dubois. “I feel Joshua fought somewhat passive. That’s why he received caught with a shot.”
Joshua was preventing simply Deontay Wilder in his latest losses to Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker. Transferring across the ring in opposition to Dubois was a loopy technique by Joshua, and it’s a shock he used that strategy. Was that Ben Davison’s recreation plan? In that case, it’s one more reason to exchange him.
“I feel Anthony Joshua wants a distinct coach. I do know there’s a coach on the market that he doesn’t essentially get together with, however I imagine Lennox Lewis can take him to the heavyweight championship of the world,” mentioned Rahman.
“I feel Lennox could be the very best coach for Anthony Joshua. So no matter little discrepancy that they received, they’ll put that to the aspect and make an all British dream staff and return and reclaim the title a 3rd time. I feel Lennox is the person for Anthony. I do know Lennox would do that, and I feel they might create a dream staff collectively,” mentioned Rahman.
Including Lewis to Joshua’s staff may not assist the scenario as a result of AJ’s chin would nonetheless be simply as susceptible as earlier than. However no less than if Joshua had Lewis in his nook, he would have fought extra aggressively and wouldn’t have been given recreation plans that didn’t deal with his strengths.
“A very powerful factor is expertise. He’s been within the scenario that Anthony is presently in, and he is aware of easy methods to come again,” mentioned Rahman. “He got here again on prime each time he’s been in that scenario. Simply the boxing IQ and the way he is aware of easy methods to maneuver across the ring.
“I feel Lennox could be the perfect man for Anthony to return and reclaim that three-time heavyweight championship,” mentioned Rahman.
If Joshua goes to remain loyal to Ben out of his friendship, he could not really feel comfy about letting him go. He should do one thing as a result of sticking with Ben looks as if a sinking ship.
