A forty-year-long wait would now continue, it seems. In the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Tyrell Biggs bagged a super heavyweight gold for his country. Perhaps Joshua Edwards wanted to break the jinx. Unfortunately, as things stand now, Tyrell Biggs’ feat will remain unchallenged. Team USA boxing faced another disappointment. Following Jajaira Gonzalez‘s defeat in the preliminary rounds, heavyweight Joshua Edwards suffered a split decision loss against the Italian Diego Lenzi.

Led by Billy Walsh, Team USA Boxing will now have to pin its hopes on the six remaining boxers for medals. Tomorrow, while flyweight Roscoe Hill will test his skills against Frenchman Billal Bennama, featherweight Alyssa Mendoza will commence her campaign. Reportedly, after the great George Foreman, Joshua Edwards happened to be the second heavyweight Olympian from the ‘Lone Star State’. But unfortunately, at the biggest sporting stage, the stars seemingly abandoned him. The loss subsequently witnessed some intense discussion, with many pro-boxer jumping with their viewpoints.

Joshua Edwards Exit: Tactical Missteps or Systemic Issues? 

To Lamont Roach Jr., besides their surnames, there appears to be a lot of similarity between the fighting styles of Joshua Edwards and Sunny Edwards. He compared the heavyweight boxer’s speed, agility, and defensive techniques to those of the former flyweight champion from Britain. The 28-year-old WBA super featherweight champion found it disbelieving that the American could not utilize the typical attributes expected of a heavyweight, such as power and aggression.

Finding the coaching staff culpable for such a deviation, Roach Jr. said, “The USA Olympic heavyweight was fighting like Sunny Edwards, bro. I blame the USA coaching. You’re a heavyweight; act like it.” One of the responses he received was from his former opponent. Jamel Herring had defeated Lamont Roach Jr. during the 2019 title fight. The former world champion apparently agreed with ‘The Reaper’s thoughts.

Suggesting that Joshua Edwards might have to refine his fighting style to better fit the heavyweight division’s standards. Only then would he be able to successfully market himself and transition into a professional career. Soon, he received a reply from ‘The Reaper’: “Yea man, maybe he has already built some relationships with people scouting him, but that’s a tough loss.”

Joshua Edwards lost his contention by a narrow ‘Win on Points’ margin of 3-1. Probably, the first round became his undoing.

The road ahead

The Italian fighter dominated Edwards by putting his powerful right hand to effective use. The American heavyweight rallied back in the second round. However, unfortunately, he suffered a point deduction. Though he remained consistent with his performance in the final round, by then it was minimal and past due. Out of the five judges, three upheld Diego Lenzi’s cause for the win. The remaining two went with the American boxer.

Joshua Edwards qualified on the back of his gold medal-winning performance at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. The same year, in May, he had in fact defeated the British gold medal hopeful, Delicious Orie, at the 53rd Grand Prix in the Czech Republic.

With this loss, Joshua Edwards might have to take stock of his future course of action. If he decides to continue improving his amateur record, then his next big chance will come in 2027, at the Lima Pan American Games. But by that time, he will be 27. That’s a fairly advanced age if he decides to become a professional boxer thereafter. The Houston-born fighter will have to play his cards very carefully now.

What’s your take on Joshua Edwards’ loss? Do you feel the fight was more of a draw?