ANTHONY JOSHUA’S performance to reclaim his heavyweight world titles from Andy Ruiz Jr was just like watching the great Muhammad Ali.
That’s the verdict of former world champ Barry McGuigan, who was impressed with AJ announcing himself as the world’s best for a second time following a convincing points win on Saturday night.
Anthony Joshua boxed like Muhammad Ali according to McGuiganCredit: Alamy Live News
Joshua’s movement was likened to the world’s greatestCredit: Getty – Contributor
The judges were unanimous in their decision as Joshua beat an overweight Andy Ruiz Jr, producing a skilled and patient display to secure the four title belts he lost six months ago.
And McGuigan believes his tactical display was similar to watching Ali back in his heyday.
He told talkSPORT: “I think this could not have been better.
“Hindsight is a great thing and we can see all of the things that we maybe speculated about.
“But the bottom line is; the performance he put on, the versatility – we have never seen this before.
“We saw him do a little bit of boxing in the [Joseph] Parker fight, but never move like that.
“He was like Muhammad Ali moving around like that, moving around the ring like that.
“His hands weren’t as low, but he was disciplined, he was tactically on point from start to finish.
“He boxed impeccably, magnificently, and he showed us another element to him. He has moved on and advanced as a fighter, as a human being, Anthony Joshua.”
Joshua will barely take a break as declared he is ready to step back into the ring in March.
He is likely to fight mandatory challengers Oleksandr Usyk or Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev.
Joshua told Sky Sports: “The work begins again because around March I’ll be defending those titles again.
“I’m already focusing on my next fight.
“Anyone can get it, the resume shows that but I’ll be keen to handle my mandatories because the current WBC champion is fighting with Tyson Fury so good luck to them both, that’s another exciting fight for the division.
“In the meantime, I’ll handle my mandatories that I’ll have to do or I want to vacate a belt and I’ve just worked hard to get them I don’t want to give them away.”
Joshua is ready to defend his belts in MarchCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Anthony Joshua blasted as ‘hypocrite’ after he criticised Fury for hit-and-move tactics, the same used against Ruiz Jr
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
