Anthony Joshua’s lack of confidence, according to heavyweight Deontay Wilder, played a significant role in his rematch loss to Oleksandr Usyk on Sunday morning.
Pundits have noted that Joshua improved his performance in Saudi Arabia following his loss to Usyk last year, but it wasn’t enough as the Ukrainian retained his heavyweight titles via split decision.
Wilder, who is set to return to the ring on October 15 against Finland’s Robert Helenius, believes Joshua lacked confidence in the build-up to the fight and has questioned the 32-year-old’s mentality.
“Sometimes you just look at both fighters, and sometimes the eye test will tell it all,” Wilder told ESNews on Wednesday.
“The body language is telling a story, the way the momentum of a fighter is telling a story, you could look at Usyk and tell how confident he was, how the tables have turned, you could tell he owned it, he feels like who he is.
“With Joshua, you could tell that he wasn’t himself, his usual self of being motivated and secure within himself.”