Anthony Joshua has provided insight into what makes Oleksandr Usyk so dangerous, with the pair set to meet in the ring at the end of September.
On Saturday 25th September at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Joshua will be taking on WBO mandatory challenger Usyk, a former undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world.
While Joshua will head into the bout as favourite, largely due to Usyk’s lack of experience at heavyweight level, this fight will be no ‘gimme’ for the Watford-born fighter.
Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports, he’s provided some insight into what makes Usyk so dangerous.
The report notes that Joshua was quizzed as to whether the Ukranian’s shrewd footwork makes him his trickiest ever opponent, to which he replied:
“100 per cent, he will be. Movement means you are never stationery to get hit. Movement is important. Concentration – when you want to [punch], you lock in, then make a move. You have to make sure your brain works.”
“That can be mentally fatiguing so I am sharpening the mind so that I can concentrate for the 12 rounds. Also I practice having the ability to [punch] four times, not just once.”
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BenchWarmers’ view
Usyk definitely threatens to be a difficult opponent for AJ. The boxing community is right to be concerned that plans for a future Joshua v Fury unification bout are in jeopardy.
However, with AJ having already experienced what it feels like to be defeated by an underdog and lose his titles, you’d like to think he’d approach this fight professionally and get the job done.
Usyk is a world-class boxer, but his best performances have become in a weight division which is cannot be compared to fighting at heavyweight.
One wrong step or drop of the guard and Usyk could find himself in a bundle on the canvas. Joshua will be waiting patiently for his opportunity to land that famous right hand.