DESPITE the conspiracy theories, there’s a simple explanation why Anthony Joshua had a meltdown after losing to Oleksandr Usyk for the second time.
AJ’s uncharacteristic and embarrassing foul-mouthed ring rant was almost certainly caused by acute frustration.
Anthony Joshua suffered a decision defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last weekend
Joshua was overcome with rage after his second loss to the Ukrainian
The fallen Brit went on an extraordinary rant after the fight
Dr Vince Berger, a highly-respected American sports psychiatrist who has been practising for more than 40 years, said: “Frustration is experienced whenever the results you are expecting do not seem to fit the efforts and actions you are applying.
“A typical response is anger — and an angry person often acts without thinking.”
There couldn’t be a more perfect analysis of why AJ acted the way he did.
Joshua deserves compassion, rather than to be condemned for his behaviour.
It’s not difficult to understand what he must have been feeling after being on the receiving end of another Usyk masterclass in the intricacies of boxing’s arts and crafts.
Joshua, with new trainer Robert Garcia, had slogged for three months getting himself in peak condition and had psyched himself into believing he was about to get revenge against the unblemished Ukrainian.
He fought far better than in London 11 months ago and yet, however hard he had tried, the bitter truth dawned on him that Usyk was still far too good.
When that realisation hit his brain, Joshua just flipped.
If he should meet Usyk a dozen times the result would be the same — even if he had Angelo Dundee and Manny Steward in his corner.
How American judge Glenn Feldman made Joshua a two-point winner is beyond comprehension. I reckon it wasn’t Feldman sitting ringside but Vladimir Putin in disguise.
AJ isn’t the first to react badly before, during or after a world heavyweight title clash.
I shall never forget watching Oliver McCall — in the middle of his WBO title fight with Lennox Lewis 25 years ago — mentally disintegrating in front of my eyes in Las Vegas.
McCall kept turning his back on Lewis and refusing to fight. In the fifth round, he burst into tears and referee Mills Lane was forced to call it off.
Floyd Patterson was so ashamed at being KO’d by Sonny Liston in just 126 seconds that he left Chicago’s Comiskey Park wearing a fake beard and dark glasses.
Larry Holmes failed to match Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record when he controversially lost his title to Michael Spinks.
A furious Holmes then shocked America when he said: “Rocky Marciano wasn’t fit to carry my jock-strap.”
Because he has lost three of his last five fights there was a ridiculous suggestion that it’s time for Joshua to retire. He’s only 32 and still one of the world’s top heavyweights.
After he’d got over the Liston humiliation, Patterson had 22 more fights. Liston had 17 after Muhammad Ali beat him twice and Holmes had 25 contests after Spinks.
I’m sure that AJ’s fans would love to see him against Joe Joyce, Daniel Dubois, Dillian Whyte or Deontay Wilder.
And if Tyson Fury beats Usyk to become the unified champion — and I’m pretty sure he will — it’s not fantasy land to suggest Joshua could be his first challenger.
