Anthony Joshua.Richard Heathcote / Getty Images
- Heavyweight boxing king Anthony Joshua is similar to “lunatic” fighters from the past, according to BBC boxing expert Steve Bunce.
- Bunce says Joshua has a “defective gene” as he abandons defensive principles in favour of slugging.
- Joshua defends his world title belts in Cardiff on Saturday as he takes on Carlos Takam.
World heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has one clear “defective gene,” according to BBC Radio 5 Live boxing expert Steve Bunce.
The 28-year-old, an Olympic gold medalist from the 2012 Games in London, has a flawless record as a professional.
From 19 bouts, Joshua has 19 wins — and each and every one of them has been won by knockout. He will defend his WBA and IBF world titles against mandatory challenger Carlos Takam at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.
However, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Bunce said Joshua has one fault.
“He’s got one defective gene, Anthony Joshua — he likes to fight too much,” he said.
According to Bunce, Joshua likes “lunatic” fan-friendly fights. He said his preferred fighting style is one that goes against the basics taught by his head coach Rob McCracken — he even admitted this in an interview, according to Bunce, where he said: “Don’t tell Rob, but I actually like those fights.”
He would rather abandon the defensive part of the game in favour of a back-and-forth slug, Bunce added.
“He loves those long, drawn out, sucker punch, lunatic heavyweights from the 70s. And Joshua’s got a bit of that in him.
“That’s his one defective gene, he might like slugging too much.”
However, Bunce added that this is part of the reason why sports fans enjoy watching Joshua fight.
“It’s not because Joshua is in the ‘never put a foot wrong’ business, it’s because people like him and know they’re going to get a fight.
“They’re going to be entertained for their money.”
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