Anthony Joshua Can Create a Real Legacy in 2020

Anthony Joshua Can Create a Real Legacy in 2020

By Sina Latif

When heavyweight legend George Foreman was recently talking about Floyd Patterson’s immediate rematch victory against Ingemar Johansson in 1960 following the first fight in which Patterson was knocked down seven times and stopped in the third round, Foreman told The Telegraph:

“They were horrible knockdowns too, horrible. The kind you think, ‘that’s the end of him.’ But it wasn’t, it was the beginning of a new history in boxing.”

Many doubted that Anthony Joshua (23-1, 21 KO’s) could make so many little changes to his style after his first loss in just six months for an immediate rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr (33-2, 22 KO’s), but he proved everybody wrong. Not only did Joshua make all the required changes, but the execution was nothing short of brilliant, as shown through his totallydominant victory.

The Brit created history by becoming only the fourth heavyweight champion to become a two-time champion in an immediate rematch after Patterson (1960), Muhammad Ali (1978) and Lennox Lewis (2001). That is legendary company and Joshua’s name etched in the history books.

The character and mental fortitude shown by ‘AJ’ to box so well and turn his fortunes around in an epic career save after being dropped four times in a 7-round demolition to the same opponent in June has to be applauded. He showed physical and mental strength to stick to a game-plan for all 12 rounds, knowing that it could all be over with one mistake against a man who had already proved he could hurt AJ.

A famous example of when a heavyweight champion avenged a loss in an immediate rematch was Lewis against Hasim Rahman in 2001. There was much talk prior to Joshua’s showdown in the desert against Ruiz regarding Joshua possibly being unable to replicate Lewis’ feat due to the fact that Lewis was initially defeated due to a single well-timed punch, whereas Joshua had been beaten badly after four knockdowns.

Well, not only was Joshua’s victory equally as definitive as Lewis’, albeit it wasn’t a sensational knockout like Lewis accomplished, but Joshua’s victory may have actually been more impressive than Lewis’ immediate rematch KO victory.

Rahman beat Lewis in the first fight with a single-punch devastating knockout. Ruiz out-fought and out-boxed Joshua in their first fight and the upset victory was no fluke. However, Joshua reversed this loss with an absolute masterclass.

There was huge pressure on Joshua to deliver in the fight titled “Clash on the Dunes”, but the 30-year-old added a new dimension to his game, and for a man who doesn’t mind getting into dog-fights, maintained his focus and discipline and got the job done.

With this victory, Joshua re-established himself as one of the current top three heavyweights alongside WBC champion Deontay Wilder and lineal champion Tyson Fury.

Joshua is the biggest draw amongst the trio, and so ultimately has the biggest say with regards to which direction he wants his career to follow after his impressive re-capturing of his belts.

The man beat Wladimir Klitschko in his 19th professional fight on a career-defining night in an all-time classic and is now a two-time champion in 24 fights. Now, the 30-year-old Brit has indicated a willingness to step up the gears and cement a legacy in a career that has the beginnings of a Hall of Famer.

He tweeted: “Let’s get Undisputed trending! That’s what I want & that’s what the people want.. I want it bad! I came to take over & not take part!”

AJ is aware that the mandatories against Kubrat Pulev and Oleksandr Usyk will have to be fulfilled for him to keep all of his belts, which is looking unlikely.

Promoter Eddie Hearn recently stated following Joshua’s victory that the Brit may have to vacate either the IBF or WBO belt depending on which mandatory he decides to fight.

However, although Joshua has declared he would ‘hate it’ if he had to vacate one of his belts, he told Sky:

“To have to vacate because of the boxing politics would be annoying, but there’s things that are out of my control. If I do lose one, I know I’ll be able to get it back.”

The blessing would be that whether it be a mandatory defence or a potential unification fight, Joshua vs Usyk would be a great fight for the Brit in his legacy-building career. Joshua is 2012 Olympic gold medalist at super-heavyweight, whilst Usyk is also a gold medalist at the same olympics in London in the heavyweight class.

Since then, Usyk has become undisputed champion at cruiserweight, whilst Joshua has become unified champion at heavyweight. A fight against the skilful southpaw would be a great legacy-building one for Joshua if he could prevail victorious.

Wilder and Fury have their much-anticipated rematch in February, with the vacant Ring Magazine title also on the line in that rematch, with reports of a trilogy fight to follow in the summer, and Joshua is showing a willingness to fight the winner, which would crown an undisputed champion.

Joshua is in the driver’s seat yet again and if he sets his mind on seeking a fight against the Wilder vs Fury winner, he can become a heavyweight legend. If he defeats his mandatories, still holds all of his current belts and fights the Wilder vs Fury winner, his belts as well as the WBC, lineal and Ring Magazine belt could be his if he overcomes the victor. That would undoubtedly make him the true heavyweight champion of this era and the baddest man on the planet.

His loss to Ruiz Jr actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it enabled him to show the heart of a champion to come back, become a two-time champion in impressive fashion in an immediate rematch and create history.

2020 is the year that Joshua adds the finishing touches to the boxer-puncher he has become, then challenges, or the way circumstances are looking with a potential Wilder vs Fury trilogy and his quest to keep his current belts amidst the possibility of having to vacate, be on the verge of facing the Wilder vs Fury winner in an attempt to become an all-time great.

Joshua’s career has been guided perfectly thus far, and the Brit has been excellent. The 30-year-old has always talked about leaving a legacy behind, and this is the year for him to take significant strides to make history. After creating some history to be mentioned alongside the likes of Ali and Lewis, for him to be anywhere near Ali and Lewis in the pantheon, fans must be given the fights they want.