Concerns over Anthony Joshua’s focus and priorities have resurfaced among boxing fans after the former heavyweight champion shared a new workout video that many believe misses the mark, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
In the clip, which shows Joshua performing intense neck strengthening exercises, fans expressed worry that the British-Nigerian fighter might be concentrating on the wrong aspects of his training as he attempts to revive his career following a damaging defeat to Daniel Dubois.
Joshua, once the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO heavyweight champion of the world, suffered a brutal knockout loss to Dubois in September last year, a defeat that raised serious questions about his future in the sport.
Though promoter Eddie Hearn has kept hopes of a possible Tyson Fury showdown alive, the silence on that front has only fueled speculation about Joshua’s readiness for another marquee bout.
The training video, shared by Boxing Kingdom on X, captured the 34-year-old working on his neck strength, performing a strenuous “neck bridge” routine. The post was simply captioned “Anthony Joshua working on his neck strength over the weekend.”
The exercise involves balancing the body’s weight on the neck while rocking back and forth on the floor, a movement that is used by fighters to improve resistance to head shots.
While the science behind neck strengthening in boxing is well-documented to be helping to reduce whiplash and absorb punches more effectively, Joshua’s clip has clearly failed to inspire confidence.
Though the method is not uncommon among boxers with Canelo Alvarez being one example of its advocates and the science behind neck strengthening in boxing is well-documented to be helping to reduce whiplash and absorb punches more effectively but Joshua’s fans were far from convinced as it clearly failed to inspire their confidence.
“This workout hurts athletes more than it helps them btw, just letting everyone know,” one fan with username @itsdafanta warned, questioning both the effectiveness and safety of the routine. While the exercise has its benefits when supervised and performed correctly, it also poses risks to the cervical spine and surrounding muscles if not done properly.
Another user named Dave Cunningham, @dconsec, offered a more cautionary take, advising others not to try it at home, “For everyone watching… don’t do this.” The light-hearted tone belied a deeper concern over injury risk, particularly for those unfamiliar with such advanced techniques.
But some fans weren’t concerned about the safety of the exercise, they were more focused on what they saw as a misplaced training priority. Top Striker with username @champ_official1 remarked, “He needs to work on his defence and movement,” highlighting recurring flaws in Joshua’s performances, especially his limited footwork and defensive awareness.
The criticism didn’t stop there. Another user, @FlawedPlane, took a jab at Joshua’s perceived fragility, commenting, “Does he know any chin exercises?” The comment echoed a familiar narrative surrounding the Watford-born boxer, whose chin has been a topic of discussion since his shock loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019 and was again called into question after the multiple knockdowns he suffered against Dubois.
Adding to the pile-on, another viewer, @PapaGJS, questioned the point of the training altogether. “Hmm, can he find a way to fix that weak jaw of his?” the post read, underlining that some fans feel his problems are far more fundamental than neck strength.
