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In the aftermath of Anthony Joshua’s surprising loss to Daniel Dubois, unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk offered some technical insights that shed light on why Joshua fell short in their bout. According to Usyk, one of Joshua’s critical mistakes was leaning back during exchanges, leaving him vulnerable to Dubois' power shots. Joshua, a fighter known for his physical presence and technical prowess, was dropped four times in the main event on Saturday night, with Dubois repeatedly exploiting this flaw.
Usyk, no stranger to high-level competition and ring IQ, emphasized that Joshua’s head positioning was a major factor in the outcome. Instead of standing tall with his head straight up, Joshua leaned back—a mistake that Dubois capitalized on to great effect.
The Danger of Leaning Back
In combat sports, leaning back may seem like a natural defensive reflex, especially for taller fighters who want to evade punches without sacrificing position. However, this movement can be dangerous for several reasons:
Loss of balance: Leaning back shifts a fighter's center of gravity, making it harder to defend or counter effectively.
Exposure to power shots: It opens up the head and body, leaving a fighter vulnerable to overhand punches and hooks.
Reduced offensive capability: Leaning back takes a fighter out of range to land their own counters, forcing them into a purely defensive position.
Joshua's Struggle: Leaning Back and Dubois' Exploitation
Anthony Joshua, while typically known for his strong fundamentals, leaned back frequently during his bout with Daniel Dubois. This movement, according to Usyk, became a habit that Dubois quickly picked up on. Instead of maintaining a firm stance with his head positioned upright, Joshua leaned back to avoid Dubois’ jabs and power punches, but this inadvertently gave Dubois room to move forward and land hard shots. The result? Joshua was dropped four times, with Dubois making the most of every opportunity to punish him for his backward lean.
Usyk's critique speaks to his own deep understanding of the technical aspects of boxing. A master of angles and defensive movement, Usyk often keeps his head upright, his guard high, and his feet mobile, avoiding dangerous habits like leaning back.
Who Has Mastered Leaning Back?
While leaning back is generally discouraged, some fighters have managed to incorporate this movement into their style successfully. It requires immense speed, timing, and footwork to make this defensive move work without compromising balance or exposing themselves to danger.
1. Anderson Silva - The Master of Leaning Back
Perhaps the most famous example of making the lean-back technique work is former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Known for his slick head movement and impeccable timing, Silva would lean back to evade punches, often standing straight up with his hands down. His fight against Forrest Griffin in 2009 showcased his ability to lean back and counter with precision. Silva’s lean-back technique worked because of his incredible reflexes, footwork, and fight IQ, allowing him to bait opponents into striking, only to counter with pinpoint accuracy.
2. Floyd Mayweather Jr. - Shoulder Roll and Lean Back
Another fighter who has successfully used a variation of the lean-back technique is Floyd Mayweather Jr. His shoulder roll defense often involves leaning back to avoid punches while simultaneously rolling his shoulders to deflect shots. Mayweather’s version of leaning back is coupled with his impeccable footwork, keeping him balanced and ready to counter. It’s a key part of his defensive mastery, allowing him to frustrate opponents who struggle to land clean shots on him.
Fighters Who Have Struggled with Leaning Back
While some fighters have been able to pull off leaning back effectively, others have suffered because of it. Anthony Joshua is now a prime example, but there have been others.
1. Conor McGregor - Over-Reliance on Leaning Back
Conor McGregor, the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, has sometimes relied too heavily on leaning back to evade punches, especially in his later fights. His loss to Dustin Poirier in their second bout at UFC 257 highlighted the dangers of this habit. By leaning back instead of maintaining forward pressure, McGregor found himself on the receiving end of Poirier’s brutal calf kicks, which compromised his mobility and led to his eventual knockout.
2. Dominick Reyes - Vulnerable Against Jan Blachowicz
Dominick Reyes, in his fight against Jan Blachowicz for the UFC light heavyweight title, leaned back too often to avoid Blachowicz’s strikes. This backward movement made it easier for Blachowicz to close the distance and land heavy punches, eventually leading to a devastating knockout in the second round.
Standing Tall: The Success of Usyk's Approach
Oleksandr Usyk’s own fighting style stands in stark contrast to the lean-back approach. Usyk is known for his excellent posture, constantly keeping his head upright, his feet in position, and his defense tight. This upright stance allows him to both defend and counter seamlessly, constantly moving but never sacrificing balance. His success in dismantling Anthony Joshua in their two bouts is a testament to his disciplined and technically sound approach. Usyk's critique of Joshua’s backward leaning is born from his own experience of staying composed and balanced in the ring.
Conclusion: Leaning Back—Risk vs. Reward
Leaning back can be a high-risk, high-reward move in combat sports. While fighters like Anderson Silva and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have shown that it can be used effectively with the right timing and reflexes, it can also be a recipe for disaster if done improperly. Anthony Joshua’s loss to Daniel Dubois highlights the dangers of relying on this defensive maneuver without the necessary footwork or balance, as Dubois was able to repeatedly drop him by exploiting this flaw.
As Usyk pointed out, the key is maintaining balance and posture. A fighter who leans back too often will eventually be caught. In the world of combat sports, where the margin for error is razor-thin, such habits can make or break a fight.
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