Anthony Joshua lacked confidence against Usyk – Deontay Wilder

American Heavyweight boxer, Deontay Wilder has claimed that Anthony Joshua lost his rematch to Oleksandr Usyk due to a lack of confidence.

Wilder, who is set for a ring return on October 15 against Finland’s Robert Helenius, believes Joshua showed a lack of 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.

“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.”

Wilder also claimed he received an offer from Eddie Hearn before Joshua’s fight with Usyk, adding that it was a sign the promoter did not have full confidence in Joshua’s ability to reclaim the heavyweight titles.

“Eddie Hearn came to us, after everything is over with my fight, talking about offering a deal,” said Wilder.

“My thing is we’re busy. For me, it’s easy to see what was going on. Boxing’s solely a business, it’s not a sport. It’s strictly a business.

“But he was trying to contact us for reassurance.

All of a sudden you want to make a fight because even you don’t have confidence in your own fighter that he was going to win.

“For me, he was trying to make a deal to ensure he can lock something in but the thing about it is when you lose that price goes up. He ain’t going to get no solid deal locked in. We’re not stupid, when you’re

Conor McGregor defends Anthony Joshua after his rant following Oleksandr Usyk defeat

Conor McGregor has defended Anthony Joshua’s post-fight speech after the boxer went on a bizarre rant following his loss to Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch.

AJ was beaten on points for the second time in the space of a year by Ukraine’s Usyk in Saudi Arabia. After his split decision defeat in the highly anticipated rematch, Joshua grabbed the microphone before delivering a speech.

He spoke about his journey and the ongoing war on Ukraine after telling Usyk “I’m talking” when the champion tried to take his Ukrainian flag back from him, a bizarre speech that many have slammed. Joshua said:

“This guy is a phenomenal talent, we’re going to cheer for him three times. “How many belts you got now bro, five? Hooray. I was studying Ukraine and their champions from your amazing country.

“I’ve never been there, but at the same time, what’s happening there, I don’t know what’s happening. “It’s not nice, I’ve seen it in Lomachenko’s second fight. There were issues, civil war. Vitali Klitschko against Danny Williams, civil unrest.

“Usyk, as a champion, please raise your hand, under those circumstances you became a champion. Champ, champ.”

McGregor has now defended Joshua, claiming it was ‘a great speech’ and ‘if they [Usyk’s team] wanted the mic they could’ve tried get it back.’

‘You are all going on ridiculous over this,’ McGregor posted on his Twitter account. ‘That is a great speech right there. Fair play to him he made it yet he is still in there keeping that cog going.

‘If they wanted the mic they could’ve tried get it back. Then he gives me a shout out. Great fight, thank you! #champchamp’.