Boxing pundit Gareth A. Davies publicly disagreed with Tony Bellew’s sentiments about Anthony Joshua's readiness to face Deontay Wilder. This comes in the wake of Joshua's performance against Robert Helenius at the O2 Arena in London, where he was deemed by many to be overly cautious. Davies countered by saying Joshua was simply being “cautious” and not “gun-shy” as Bellew suggested. Davies told Boxing King Media, “No, not gun-shy tonight; cautious. There’s a difference.”
Bellew’s concerns were rooted in Joshua’s apparent hesitance during the bout, noting it took until the seventh round for AJ to confidently unleash his right hand. Such a strategy, according to Bellew, will prove detrimental if Joshua continues it against Wilder, a powerhouse in the boxing arena. Davies, however, feels differently, stating the need for critics to understand the distinction between timidity and strategy. He further praised Joshua for delivering a “hellacious seventh round knockout.”
While Bellew didn’t directly suggest an opponent to prepare Joshua for Wilder, names like Filip Hrgovic have come up, given his Olympic experience and punching prowess. However, some voiced concerns about Hrgovic's frequent rabbit punches, which referees often overlook. Davies, always one to have the final say, quipped about the financial implications of the possible Wilder fight: “What and not earn 60 million U.S dollars? What is Tony on?”
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