ANTHONY JOSHUA ‘does not trust himself’ since defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr and Tyson Fury will be ‘awkward’ for him, Otto Wallin said.
Wallin is preparing to face American Dominic Breazeale this weekend, the man AJ dominated over seven rounds in 2016.
But after re-watching the fight, Wallin reckons Joshua is not the same fighter and has has had his confidence knocked since losing to Ruiz.
Speaking to Marc Gatford via BonusCodeBets.co.uk, he said: “I’ve been watching Joshua’s fight with Breazeale lately.
“Joshua has a great style but I think sometimes maybe he does not trust himself enough.
“I hope that he can tune into how he looked against Breazeale, he looked more confident than he’s been lately.
“It looks to me like he’s been hurt a little bit mentally after that Ruiz loss.
“Something looked off with him that night, all the way through, from coming out of the dressing room and in the ring.
“I hope that he can trust himself and do what he’s good at. He’s got a beautiful style, he’s just got to do what he’s good at.
“I watched his fight against [Kubrat] Pulev and it looks like he’s trying to explore some different sides of himself.”
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Joshua, 31, was stunned by Ruiz, also 31, in June 2019 in a shock upset which cost him the unified titles and his unbeaten record.
But six months later he returned with a reformed style and outboxed the underdog Mexican-American to win back his belts.
Joshua has continued to stick to a more patient approach, which was on show in his last win, a round nine KO against Pulev, 39, in December.
It has set him up with an undisputed title decider where for the first time all four WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight belts will be on the line.
Wallin, 30, came mightily close to handing Fury, 32, a shock of his own in their 2019 fight.
Britain’s Gypsy King suffered a horror gash in round three after a thudding hook and almost lost via technical stoppage due to the cut.
But Fury found a way to win and six months later dethroned Deontay Wilder, 35, of the WBC crown.
Having experienced all of the 6ft 9in switch-hitter’s talent, Wallin tips his former opponent to be too slick for Joshua.
He explained: “I think Fury can outbox him because he is bigger, awkward and has great boxing skills.
“The best way would be to box him coming forward and try to make Joshua go back but still use his height and reach.
“Joshua is always going to be dangerous because he’s a puncher.
“If he can get in on Fury and let off his good combinations that would be good, but I’m not sure because Fury’s a big guy, awkward, he can go southpaw, orthodox.
“I think Fury will eventually be too much but these are two best heavyweights in the world right now.
“I just feel like Fury is very confident, he’s got a good head, and he trusts himself a lot.”
