Two-time former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua spoke about Saturday’s revenge match with current WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk on DAZN from the King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah Saudi Arabia.
You’ve been out here for over a month with the new team, how’s it been?
“Saudi has been good to me. Shout out to everyone in Saudi. I’ve had a good time. Everyone at my hotel has been looking after me, everyone in the gym. It’s been like a second home.”
And good memories from last time?
“Yeah, and I’m about to create new ones.”
Will that experience help you?
“You know what I learnt? Previous experiences are helpful, but it’s all about what happens on the night, right. I don’t know how much it will help me but I’m focused and I’m just ready to get the job done.”
How much did you learn from the first fight last September?
“I feel like one of my main strengths is that I’m a quick learner, I’m a sponge. But ultimately, apart from all of the learning stuff, it’s a fight. It’s a fight. That’s it. Whoever throws the most punches and lands the most punches wins. That’s all that matters.”
Is it a case of showing something new or is it a case of getting in there and showing everybody who you’ve always been?
“Do my best. Just doing my best. That’s all I can do.”
I’ve got to ask you for a prediction, it’s the law!
“What’s everyone saying? (asks crowd). Inshallah! We’re going for a knockout.”
Talk is just that: talk. Joshua hopping on the confidence train right now getting himself elevated. All the fighters do it. However, the reality is Joshua will need to go for broke and hope a right counter tags Usyk. Joshua is NOT going to out box Usyk that’s for darn sure. I wish him luck, but Usyk is a master at moving and countering. Joshua is gonna be working over time to catch Usyk. I hope Joshua’s lungs can hold out. He’s gonna need his aerobics intact.
Honestly, I don’t think Joshua could’ve utilized a worse game plan in the first fight. It reminded me of John Ruiz trying to outbox Roy Jones. A bigger guy needs to fight like the bigger, stronger guy and bulldoze a smaller opponent. Joshua would be well served to watch tape on Fury, because he has a much better understanding of how to push, pull, grab, and just sort of maul a smaller guy. If he tries to box with Usyk again, he probably loses. If he tries to rough him up and make it a little ugly, he’s got a great chance.
Great post!
A guy that knows boxing
100% agree
He’s obviously trying to hype himself up. I must admit i don’t understand some of the things he has said in the build up, eg ‘ i would have smoked him if he wasn’t a southpaw’. Really ? I don’t think so , and it sounds like an excuse to me . Comments about the ‘Old AJ’ ! maybe the old AJ wasn’t that good . He beat a 40 year old Vlad who Fury had already beaten …. that’s it . He lost to a 3 week prepared fat pizza boy who was a late replacement, he won the return by running against a more out of shape pizza boy then believed the headlines that it was a masterclass !!! He then received a lesson , indeed a real Masterclass !!! Lost every round and was lucky not to get KO’d .
History is against him with KO artists v fantastic boxers with brain . Does anyone remember Hagler v Sibson or Calzaghe v Lacey ??
I reckon KO to Uzyk in 8 or 9 .
We’ll said! AJ best fight was against an ageing Vlad. Since his win over Ruiz, who didn’t care and snacked in between rounds, he has pretty much fought once per year and not improved. He looked useless against Usyk! His pawing jab trying to find Usyk was cring worthy to watch.
I can’t think of another sport where you do it once a year and expected to improve? But boxers do. I think Usyk can stop him also. And if we’re wrong and AJ pulls it off … I welcome the trilogy
its the other away around Oleksandr Usyk will knock out anthony joshua
Joshua: “We’re going for a knockout.”
Everyone Else: “Welp, that’s it for him then.”
Well to be fair that’s not all Joshua said, that was his closing statement, for the fans type statement. He also said things like “Do my best. Just doing my best. That’s all I can do.” That show his humble side also. He knows very well he is in for a tough fight again.
Things could be the opposite of what we fight fans expect. Seen many fights where the puncher fights a boxers fight and where the boxer turns it into a fight, like Usyk could very well do and test out if he has more power with his added weight.
If Joshua does go all out with aggression as he claims he will play into Usyk’s strength and superior skills, the real test for Joshua is when Usyk tags him really hard and wobbles him, will Joshua lose heart and resort to trying not getting knocked out himself?
I’ve always liked Joshua, but his heart is still a question mark. He seemed to quit when he lost to Ruiz, and he simply looked lost fighting Usyk last time. I think he has the skills to win this fight, but he needs to be a bully and know he’s gonna get hit a few times.
Its time AJ was removed from this top dog illusion. He isnt up to par.
You gotta think Usyk’s camp was probably largely in preparation for a more aggressive version of Joshua. I don’t think he stops him, but I do have Usyk winning a decision 10-2, 9-3ish this time.
Usyk by KO 11th
weren’t you trying for that last time? Goo luck, it’s your only chance cause no way you are winning on points
You’re going to need it
It is said AJ had the worst camp in the previous fight. His tactic showed he was walking into everything Usyk threw except for those very few times when AJ moved to his left. He waited for Usyk to jab, just awful all around, and yet he was able to win four rds and mark Usyk’s face. I want him to win, but it is hard to against Usyk. I hope he keeps that left foot to the outside of Usyk’s and pumps that jab all night. If he can back him up, big IF, he can win.