“Everyone Watching…Don’t Do This”: Anthony Joshua’s New Workout Video Leaves Fans Concerned
Former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has surprised fans with a new training clip that hints at a renewed focus and intensity. The British star is coming off a lopsided defeat to Daniel Dubois in September of last year—a setback that left many questioning his future. Despite the loss, hopes for a long-awaited all-British showdown with the now-retired Tyson Fury continue to linger among boxing fans.
However, instead of filling people with confidence about his boxing capability at the tail end of his boxing career, Joshua’s new workout video seems to have sent fans into a state of worry. This comes after Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, showed openness to making the Fury fight on a moment’s notice. Yet, there doesn’t seem to be any development on that front, besides Joshua’s latest video.
Why did Anthony Joshua cause concerns with his training clip?
In a clip shared by Boxing Kingdom on X, captioned “Anthony Joshua working on his neck strength over the weekend,” the Watford native is seen performing an intense neck exercise, neck bridges, as part of his training routine. Bent over backwards on the ground, Joshua supports most of his body weight on his head, rocking back and forth in a strenuous effort to build neck strength.
Others, including Canelo Alvarez, are known to do similar workouts in their training camp. While these workouts can be safe when done correctly with proper form and moderation, there are risks involved that can cause injuries to the cervical spine, muscles, or nerves. The exercise itself helps strengthen a fighter’s neck, which can increase stability, improve posture, reduce the risk of neck injuries, and improve range of motion, among others.
Despite the potential benefits, however, fans quickly started expressing caution in the comment section of the post.
Fans suggest Joshua needs to work on another part of his body
Since the clip came to light, hundreds of fans flooded the comments to share their thoughts. One user didn’t seem to be a big fan of the workout. “This workout hurts athletes more than it helps them btw, just letting everyone know,” the user wrote. However, Joshua has been a trained athlete for decades and is performing the exercise under professional supervision, ensuring that it’s done safely and with proper technique.
Meanwhile, this user had a message of caution for his fellow X users. “For everyone watching…don’t do this 😅,” the user commented. It goes without saying, the exercise involves risk, which could cause major bodily harm.
The next user ignored the neck workout and suggested what Joshua really needs to work on. “[He] needs to work on his defence and movement,” the user wrote. This is likely a response rooted in Joshua’s performance against Dubois, where ‘AJ’ was dropped multiple times en route to a brutal knockout loss.
Another user suggests Joshua should focus on his chin instead. “Does he know any chin exercises?” the user wrote. This once again highlights Joshua’s vulnerability, particularly his glass chin, which contributed to the multiple knockdowns in his fight with Dubois.
Even the next user asked Joshua to focus on his chin. “Hmm, can he find a way to fix that weak jaw of his?” the user wrote. While the exercise might not help Joshua’s chin, it can help reduce the damage his neck may take from a knockout.
That said, Anthony Joshua doesn’t inspire confidence in fans with his neck exercise. However, it would be interesting to see whether they help him win if he ever plans to return to the ring. What did you think about the workout?
