Anthony Joshua has been told his only method to victory against Oleksandr Usyk is hoping that the ongoing war in Ukraine has distracted his from the fight.
Joshua, 32, is hoping to become a three-time heavyweight champion by winning his belts back against Usyk on August 20. The Brit has been expected to rematch Usyk ever since losing his belts to the Ukrainian last September. The fight is a vital moment in Joshua's boxing career as a win could set-up an highly anticipated undisputed clash with longtime rival Tyson Fury.
Before Joshua is to think about a fight with 'The Gypsy King', he will have to try and hand Usyk his first professional loss. There were doubts over whether Usyk would take the rematch after fighting on the frontline in Ukraine against an ongoing Russian invasion, with the heavyweight champion eventually being persuaded by the Ukrainian military to make his boxing return.
Boxing promoter Dmitry Salita has questioned whether Usyk will be mentally affected by the ongoing war in his rematch against Joshua, telling BoyleSports Boxing : "The only thing that AJ has in his favour is we don't know how what's going on in Ukraine affected Usyk. Has it inspired and motivated him, or is it causing him trouble and emotional turmoil?
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"No one really knows, but Based on Usyk's successful professional and amateur career, he has the mental strength to be able to deal with challenges. I think that he will be able to compartmentalise what's going on in the Ukraine and the professional task of being successful in the ring.”
Joshua has been warned that a second loss against Usyk could mark the end of his boxing career, with the Brit even being urged to consider risking disqualification in order to beat the Ukrainian. Salita thinks Usyk is a far more experienced boxer compared to Joshua and struggles to see how the Brit can make the necessary adjustments to beat his rival.
“Usyk is the better fighter and I just don't see how AJ can make the adjustments to beat Usyk, I don't see it. AJ is athletically very gifted and a hard worker and did the best he can with what he's got, but I believe that skill wise and boxing knowledge wise these are two different athletes," Salita added.
“Usyk is a very experienced fighter, had a tremendous amateur career, and is an Olympic gold medalist. He has been taught the science of boxing as a kid and really knows boxing like a scientist, on a scientific level. He's a boxing master, one of the most educated boxers in the world, maybe even of all time. He's really, really well educated in terms of the sweet science.”
