Those victories created the impression that his durability had returned. Daniel Dubois and Kristian Prenga exposed the same vulnerability once they began landing heavy punches.
Two of Joshua’s last three fights have seen him badly hurt. Dubois floored him four times before knocking him out in the fifth round, while Prenga put him on the canvas twice during the opening round last month.
The bell sounded at exactly the right time for Joshua against Prenga. His legs looked gone as the round ended, and another clean punch may have finished the fight.
That second-round recovery does not erase what happened during the opening three minutes. A massive betting favorite came frighteningly close to being knocked out by an opponent brought in for a manageable return.
Shane viewed Fury-Joshua as a 50-50 fight following Tyson’s victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov. Watching Joshua struggle with Prenga changed his opinion.
“I think from punch resistance, I think he is shot. If he hits you before you hit him, you are done. We are not under no illusions with that. He is a good finisher. He can put his punches together. But after seeing that, I just think Tyson is going to hit him,” said Shane to Fight Your Corner and The Stomping Ground.
Plenty of danger remains in Joshua when he is allowed to plant his feet and unload combinations. His comeback against Prenga also showed that he can finish an opponent after being badly hurt.
The concern is what happens when the other heavyweight lands first.
Some of the hand speed and reflexes have disappeared from the fighter who rolled off the assembly line in 2013. He no longer reacts as quickly, leaving him more available for punches that the younger version might have blocked or avoided.
The greatest deterioration has occurred in his punch resistance. Joshua increasingly struggles to absorb a solid shot without staggering or going down. That does not make him harmless. Fighters rarely lose their power as quickly as their speed, reflexes and ability to take punishment.
Tyson has declined as well. He no longer owns the fleet movement displayed against Wladimir Klitschko in 2015. He has slowed, takes more punches and may struggle to maintain a brisk pace across 12 rounds. Joshua will find opportunities to reach him.
The difference is that Tyson has repeatedly climbed off the canvas and recovered throughout his career. Joshua’s ability to do the same can no longer be trusted.
Enough power remains for Joshua to knock Tyson out. Being shot does not remove that danger. It means he has become a slower, more vulnerable heavyweight who may be one clean connection away from staggering or hitting the canvas. The Dubois and Prenga fights give Shane strong evidence for that description.
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