ANTHONY JOSHUA is set to face a former sparring in his crucial comeback fight later this year.
AJ is in a rebuilding phase of his career following consecutive losses to pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk and is set to return to the ring in April.
Talks over a showdown with former sparring partner Demsey McKean are underway
Anthony Joshua is facing a career rebuild following a second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk
And talks over a spring showdown with Aussie southpaw Demsey McKean – a training partner for two of his previous fight camps – are currently underway.
McKean told Sky Sports: “We are one of the frontrunners for a possible opponent for Anthony Joshua.
“I could be (the man to retire Joshua) and I am very confident I can do that.
“But don’t get me wrong, there is still more fights for AJ. If he loses to me, a top-10 heavyweight as well, that shouldn’t be the end.
“People probably don’t give him the credit he deserves, what he has done for the heavyweight game.
“He has brought a lot of eyes and money into the heavyweight division.
“He is probably the biggest name in boxing, everyone is after him, including me. It is the name to have on your resume.
“There are still fights to be made and people are still going to pay to watch those fights.
“But three losses in a row, does he need to keep doing this, he is well set up now?
“He probably still has his doubts, he still doubts himself a lot, I know that.
“But who wouldn’t when they are at the top, in the limelight and cop a lot of criticism.
“There are a lot of factors but I have the skills to do that (retire him) for sure.”
COULD GO SOUTHPAW
Although talks are progressing well, McKean believes the fact he’s a southpaw could scupper the bout.
He said: “I feel confident if that fight goes through. The only doubt I have is that he doesn’t want to fight a southpaw.
“It would be a shame. I have been on the brink of some very big fights myself. I have come close to fighting Dillian Whyte as well.
“I think it is sad that some of the elite boxers in the world pick and choose who they fight. We would not have had this back in the old days.
“Even with Tyson Fury a few years ago, when his fight fell through with Deontay Wilder and he was looking for a last-minute replacement. And again it came down to not wanting to fight a southpaw.
“The world has gone mad, and all these so-called champion boxers don’t want to fight a southpaw. Let’s hope he [Joshua mans up] and fights this time.”
Joshua and McKean, 33 and 32 respectively, know each other all too well having taken part in several hard rounds.
And the undefeated ‘Machine’ is confident of putting what could potentially be the final nail into the coffin of AJ’s glittering career.
He said: “I have been sparing with him for years, I have been in his camp twice.
“He knows it is going to be a hard fight, by the rounds I give these guys.
“He is a smooth operator, there aren’t too many who move like him. His size is an advantage and disadvantage for him.”
Former two-time unified heavyweight champion Joshua is set to jet out to the USA next week to begin working with new coach Derrick James.
Undefeated Aussie McKean believes he has what it takes to hand AJ his third straight loss
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it usually take to become an elite boxer?
To become a professional boxer, it takes dedication and years of hard work. A minimum of 10 hours per week is required to train to become a professional ring fighter.
How long does it take for you to master boxing?
Boxing is one among the oldest martial arts known. The first recorded boxing match was held in China around 2200 BC. Boxing has existed for thousands upon thousands of generations. Athletes and celebrities still love boxing. However, it takes about 10 months to become proficient at boxing.
Boxing involves many movements, which is why it can take so long to learn. To be able to perform each movement correctly, certain muscles are required. These muscles take time to build.
Once you have mastered the art of moving your body, you are ready to start learning any type or boxing technique. Over time, each technique will become more difficult.
How to defend yourself:
Protect your head when you are being attacked. Your goal is to avoid getting punched in the first place. You must know how to stop an incoming punch. Here’s what to do:
- Keep your shoulders square and tall.
- Keep your elbows near your sides.
- Block the incoming punch using your forearm.
- Counterattack immediately.
- Continue blocking until the attacker runs away.
- Do not let up on your defense.
Statistics
- This article received 39 testimonials and 89% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. (wikihow.com)
- It is just like normal sparring with a partner, but you want to throw punches at 75% of your normal speed. (wikihow.com)
External Links
amazon.com
- Amazon.com – Ringside Diablo Wrestling Boxing shoes : Clothing Shoes & Jewelry
- Amazon.com – Sanabul Boxing Gloves Elastic 180 Inch Red : Outdoors & Sports
boxandflow.com
How To
These are the basics of boxing
How to box efficiently
Boxing is a popular sport. Two opponents fight each other to the death. Boxing rules vary from one country or another. There are three types generally of boxing: Amateur (Professional) and Olympic (Olympic).
Amateur boxing is usually practiced at school, college or university. This type of boxing allows sparring without protection. Amateur boxing competitions typically last for three rounds, each lasting five minutes. There are many styles of amateur boxing such as Kickboxing or Muay Thai, Taekwondo and Karate, Judo and Wrestling, among others.
Boxing is often practiced in gyms or clubs. They have protective equipment such as mouthpieces. Professional boxing contests last six rounds and last for four minutes each. There are several different styles of professional boxing including Boxing, MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Taekwondo and others.
Olympic boxing is done at the Olympics. Special protective gear must be worn by boxers to ensure compliance with international standards. The eight rounds last three minutes each and are held over eight rounds. Olympic boxing can be divided into two types: Light Flyweight (Heavyweight) and Heavyweight (Light Flyweight).
The basics of boxing are:
- Punching techniques
- Guarding techniques
- Footwork
- Stance
- Body movement
- Defense
- Combination
- Rotation
- Spare parts
Punching Techniques
There are seven types. Each punch has its own technique. Some punches are more powerful than others. An example of this is an uppercut, which requires tremendous force. On the contrary, a straight punch takes less power but is faster than most punches.
There are many combinations that can be used to punch. These are combinations which combine several punches in order to achieve a specific goal. A combination may contain several parts. For example, a left hook followed by a right cross will cause damage to the opponent’s jaw.
Guard Techniques
A boxer uses his body to protect himself against attacks. He does this using his legs and arms, elbows as well as hands, knees and feet.
Legs
Boxers should use the legs to protect themselves against kicks. He raises his leg when he is hit with a kick and then moves away from the opponent. To avoid being kicked on his side, he will bend his knees if the attack is from the front. However, if the attack comes from behind, he stands up straight and blocks the kick with his foot.
Elbows
Because elbow strikes inflict a lot of pain, they are very effective. You can deliver an elbow strike directly or indirectly. Directly means that your opponent is hit with your forearm. However, indirectly means that your elbow strike is delivered with another part or your arm.
Hands
Boxers use the power of their hands to block any incoming blows. Boxers use their hands to stop incoming punches. They raise their fists up above their heads and move towards the attack. Then they make contact with the attacker’s fist.
Knees
Boxers should bend their knees when receiving blows to the abdomen, stomach, or chest. Knee strikes are often used for defense purposes.
Feet
A boxer should take control of an attack and respond with counter-attacks. This will help him gain distance from his opponent. In addition, when delivering a counter-attack, a boxer should keep his balance.
Stances
A boxer must have a stance in order to be effective at boxing. The way he defends himself will be determined by his stance. It defines where he faces his opponent and how he positions his body. There are many stances available to boxers. These are the most popular:
- Low stance
- High stance
- Southpaw stance
- Western stance
Moving your body
In order to win a fight, a boxer must move around his opponent. This means changing your speed, position and rhythm.
Rotation
When a boxer throws a punch, he rotates in order to increase the reach of his arm. Depending on what punch is being thrown, the speed of rotation varies.
Combinations
The effectiveness of a combination depends on the timing of each individual punch. A combination of strong and weak punches will produce a good result.
Spare parts
Sparring is a training session that improves boxing skills. Boxers learn to train their mind and bodies during sparring sessions. The purpose of sparring is, in short, to learn how fight and not get hurt.
Learning to box takes dedication and patience. You need to train hard and long in order to become a better boxer.
