Anthony Joshua appears to have set up an attempt to break heavyweight rival Oleksandr Usyk's five-hour swimming record.
Usyk picked up a second consecutive victory over Joshua last month in Saudi Arabia after putting in another sensational display to outpoint his rival by split decision. The Ukrainian once again showed his superb endurance and ability to control the fight despite Joshua improving from their maiden clash and even coming close to stopping the second meeting.
Prior to the bout taking place, Usyk looked in incredible shape and it had been revealed to former opponent Derek Chisora that he had been swimming in incredible five-hour bursts and training three times a day to prepare for the second test with Joshua. Now Joshua appears to have accepted the challenge of beating Usyk's endurance posting on Snapchat, with the caption: "You know I love a challenge."
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The post came with a video of Usyk attached from the press conference where his preparations were discussed by his manager Alex Krassyuk. Chisora had revealed that he was convinced Usyk's camp were lying about the claim but then he saw footage of the feat in an Olympic size pool.
"The owner told me to wait because he had a surprise," Chisora said when discussing Usyk's sensational record. "I sat down and all I heard was, 'Derek, Derek.' Just like he kept saying during the build-up to our fight. I started talking and laughing with him and I told him he looked tired. He then told me he had just finished swimming for five hours.
"I told him he was lying, he couldn't swim for five hours. But his trainer told me it was true and then showed me a video of him in this huge Olympic pool just going up and down for five hours."
Despite accepting the challenge in every occasion with Usyk, Joshua has been unable to overcome his rival inside the ring despite their significant size difference, with the Ukrainian weighing significantly less than the British heavyweight. Joshua bid for revenge in a lucrative Middle East bout but was once again left frustrated after the final bell saw the judges hand Usyk the deserved win.
After the fight, Joshua was left extremely frustrated with the outcome and burst into an X-rated rant not long after tossing the belts and storming out of the ring. It will now take a huge rebuild for Joshua to challenge for Usyk's titles again but he has since been handed a potential lifeline by Tyson Fury.
The 'Gypsy King' has proposed the pair meet on the second weekend of December in a WBC heavyweight title clash despite Joshua's initial plan to return later that month against another top fifteen contender. Talks remain ongoing and Joshua has accepted the date with both men now eyeing the monumental British showdown.
