Don’t write off Anthony Joshua just yet.
The former two-time heavyweight champ’s career was turned upside down in 2019, when underdog Andy Ruiz stunned Joshua and the boxing world by stopping the 2012 Olympic champion in the seventh round.
In one bout he went from arguably the best heavyweight of his era to a fighter with questionable mental toughness.
He carefully outboxed Ruiz to regain the titles he lost to the American in their rematch six months later and stopped Kubrat Pulev in his first defense, which allowed him to regain some of the respect he lost.
Then disaster struck again … and again. Joshua lost a decision and his belts to the relatively small, but clever Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and suffered the same fate in their second fight last August.
It seemed at the moment Usyk had his hand raised for a second time that Joshua would never again be perceived as one of the great big men.
Is that his fate? Not necessarily. He still has a path to regaining much of what he has lost, starting with his meeting with Robert Helenius – Dillian Whyte’s late replacement – on Saturday at O2 Arena in London (DAZN).
If Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs) gets past Helenius, around a 12-1 underdog, he’s expected to face former titleholder Deontay Wilder late this year.
That would not be an easy matchup for Joshua but it’s winnable. Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) might be the hardest puncher in the history of boxing, which is the reason all but one of his victories have come by knockout and he was able to put Tyson Fury down four times in three fights.
If Ruiz can hurt Joshua multiple times, what will happen with Wilder lands one of his bombs? The right punch from Wilder could end Joshua’s night and career.
Another possibility? Joshua outboxes Wilder.
Again, he did exactly that in his rematch with Ruiz, although Ruiz came in overweight. Joshua’s second fight with Usyk is probably more indicative of his capabilities. He came close to turning the tables on one of the top pound-for-pounders, losing a legitimate split decision.
If he can perform at that level against Wilder – and avoid Wilder’s biggest shots – a decision in his favor would be a realistic possibility.
And don’t sleep on the punching power of Joshua, who can stop anyone with the right punch or series of blows. That includes Wilder, who was stopped twice by Fury.
Indeed, in terms of the tools he brings into the ring, Joshua is a better all-around fighter than Wilder. And he seems to be thriving under new trainer Derrick James, who guided him to a unanimous decision victory over Jermaine Franklin in April.
The American’s advantages would be his superior power and mental toughness, which would make this matchup 50-50.
If Joshua fights and beats Wilder? That would go a long way in rehabilitating his reputation given Wilder’s success and spirited efforts in his series with Fury, particularly if Joshua fights like a fighter who believes in himself (unlike the rematch with Ruiz).
And a victory could lead to the ultimate matchup next year: a long awaited showdown with his countryman and most natural rival, Fury, assuming the champion doesn’t lose to Francis Ngannou on Oct. 28.
The matchup would be enormous from a business standpoint, particularly in the U.K. That’s a powerful incentive for both men to strike a deal.
It would also be a golden opportunity for Joshua to return to the top of the heavyweight heap, although he’d share it with Usyk, who holds three of the four major titles.
Joshua will always be the guy who got knocked out by a chubby, seemingly overmatched Ruiz that disastrous night at Madison Square Garden in New York and a two-time victim of the smaller Usyk. That’s part of his legacy now.
However, if he can beat Helenius, Wilder and Fury, he’ll also become known as a guy who overcame crushing disappointments and fooled his critics by reclaiming what was once his. That accomplishment would look damn good on his resume.
Of course, winning those three fights would be a monumental task. After all, Wilder and Fury are future Hall of Famers. Back-to-back victories over those monsters would be one of the most impressive heavyweight feats ever, meaning the odds are against it.
The point here is that Joshua could get the opportunity. The rest would be up to him.
