DILLIAN WHYTE believes Anthony Joshua “will never be the same again” after his defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr – despite gaining revenge last month.
The 30-year-old AJ regained the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO titles with a convincing victory over the man who shocked the world last summer.
Dillian Whyte is adamant Anthony Joshua will never be the same fighter again after suffering his first defeat last yearCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
AJ suffered a shock loss to the Mexican last June but gained revenge and his titles in DecemberCredit: Richard Pelham – The Sun
Even though the Watford-born fighter is back on top of the mountain, his British heavyweight rival Whyte says the champ has always showed signs of “not liking getting hit” and believes he is no longer “aggressive” in the ring.
Back in their amateur days Whyte defeated Joshua before AJ avenged that with a stunning knockout victory over “The Body Snatcher”.
And even though he is the king again after beating Ruiz, Whyte is adamant Joshua “won’t be the same fighter” because of his June loss to the Mexican.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the 31-year-old said: “We’ve seen this before – Lennox Lewis was an aggressive fighter on the front foot but got knocked out by Hasim Rahman, then changed his style.
“People forget Wladimir Klitschko was one of the most aggressive heavyweights for a long time, but he got done by Ross Puritty, Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster then changed his style.
“Joshua will be the same.
“Tall heavyweights start their careers very aggressively, but then?
“Even Deontay Wilder, when he was clocked a couple of times by Luis Ortiz, thought ‘I’m just going to wait’.
“We have seen this time and time again in history, and it’s always the same.”
And he claimed Joshua has always shown weakness.
He added: “Let’s go further back – Carlos Takam, Alexander Povetkin, Joseph Parker. There were signs of caginess and not liking getting hit.”
Whyte is waiting for his first shot at a world title and has been the WBC’s No.1 contender for over 800 days.
Their title holder Wilder defends the strap against Tyson Fury on February 22, meaning Whyte’s best chance of battling for a belt could come in a rematch with Joshua.
The Londoner added: “AJ says a lot of things. Listen, if he wants to fight me, the fight can happen.
“I’m here, I’m ready to fight, if he wants to fight me, the fight can happen. He’s a good fighter and a good champion, but he talks a lot of rubbish most of the time.
“Him, Wilder, Fury, they all talk the same rubbish. He says one thing and then he backtracks and says another thing. At least I’m consistent with what I say, and I do what I say.
“One minute he says ‘I’m going to spar with Fury’ and then the next minute he says ‘if it works in my schedule’. When Fury said ‘yes, if it works in my schedule’. He just talks rubbish, man.”
Inside Anthony Joshua’s Barbados Christmas holiday with the boys drinking coconuts on the beach in the day and partying at night
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
