Atlas: Joshua Accepts Defeat Too Easily, Like a Guy That Made Too Much Money

Veteran trainer and boxing analyst, Teddy Atlas, believes two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is a bit too gracious in defeat. 

Back in June 2019, Joshua was shocked when he lost his unified crown to huge underdog Andy Ruiz, who dropped the British star four times for a stoppage win in seven rounds.

Six months later, Joshua regained his titles when he boxed his way to a twelve round decision win over Ruiz.

In 2021, Joshua was once again struck with a setback, when Oleksandr Uysk outboxed him over twelve for a unanimous decision victory to capture the IBF, WBO, IBO, WBA titles.

Atlas – who worked with several top fighters like former heavyweight champions Mike Tyson, Alexander Povetkin and Michael Moorer – feels Joshua accepts defeat too easily.

“Joshua, he’s made too much money,” Atlas said on his podcast The Fight. “I do [think that]. He accepts defeat too easily, too graciously – I want a good winner and a good loser, don’t get me wrong.

“I believe as much as anybody, if not more than most people, about that, about showing that kind of graciousness whether you win or lose, but he’s too gracious when it comes to it. Like a guy that made too much money.”

Joshua has exercised an immediate rematch clause, with the second fight with Usyk being positioned for dates in April.

The twice-beaten boxer has promised to get revenge.

“The learning is done, it’s war, straight war. I’m boiling up inside even speaking about it. [Usyk] has had like 400 amateur fights, he’s seen people that have tried to rough him up, millions of times, so to just try and adapt to one [game plan] is silly,” Atlas said.

“But for me I have one thing in my mind; that’s war, that’s murder, that’s war. That’s go out there and hurt the guy, and take his soul to the point where he wants to give up.”