Usyk vs. Joshua Preview
Jeddah, Suadi Arabia will play host to a heavyweight boxing showdown and a rematch between WBO, WBA and IBF champion Oleksandr Usyk and former two-time champion Anthony Joshua.
The two fought last September in London with Usyk winning unanimously in a fight that was a surprise to many. Usyk moved up in weight after being an undisputed cruiserweight champion to challenge Joshua for his heavyweight belts. The 35-year-old is 19-0 with 13 KO and eliminated all criticisms that he was too small for heavyweight with his dominant victory over a decorated champion.
The Ukranian has added motivation for this fight sparked but Ukraine’s war against Russia. “I am motivated by the people of Ukraine who are struggling hard to defend our independence, to defend our freedom and defend our culture that other people want to demolish and destroy, they don’t want us to exist anymore,” Usyk said.
He went on to say, “I am in touch with many guys from the frontline, military guys and soldiers. I receive voice and video messages from them with words of support and news that they are praying for me and for my victory. They are holding their hands tight and praying for my victory and that motivates me.”
Usyk immediately signed up for the military reserves after the war started and was given permission to set up training camp in Europe. “I have been getting updates from home every day and I did manage to get some positive news. Some of my friends, military guys, came back from their assignments safe and sound. Their assignments were really complicated and dangerous but they managed to get home safe and sound and accomplish it," Usyk said.
“We are hearing fewer explosions and see enemy activity reducing, which might be considered positive news for us.”
Usyk’s country has been granted access to watch the fight for free so an entire nation will pause for a moment to see him defend his title. “I have been getting updates from home every day and I did manage to get some positive news. Some of my friends, military guys, came back from their assignments safe and sound. Their assignments were really complicated and dangerous but they managed to get home safe and sound and accomplish it," Usyk said.
“We are hearing fewer explosions and see enemy activity reducing, which might be considered positive news for us.”
“That is what has motivated us to stand strong and fight. I am pretty sure that if we had someone else as president that we would have not moved in the positive direction that we have.”
The champion will be returning home to Ukraine after the fight. “I just want to see my kids, who I have not seen properly for almost half a year, I want to see my mum, they are all now in Europe,” he said.
“I want to see them and hug them and have dinner with them. And then I will go to Kiev.”
Aside from Joshua, Usyk has wins at heavyweight over former title challenger Derek Chisora and Chazz Whitherspoon. As a cruiserweight he had key wins over Tony Ballew, Murat Gassiev, Mairis Briedis, Marco Huck, Michael Hunter, Thabiso Mchunu and Krzysztof Glowacki.
With a win it will be interesting to see who Usyk could fight next since WBC champion Tyson Fury has announced his retirement. However, Fury has retired and come out of retirement twice now, so another dominant win over Joshua by Usyk could perhaps pull Fury out of retirement for a third time. Fury was one of the more vocal heavyweights who claimed that Usyk is too small for the weight class but Usyk did not oblige to the chatter by the Brit.
Joshua is a two-time heavyweight champion and in both times he lost the belts, he was stunned by an opponent most people believed he would defeat. With his win over Joseph Parker in 2018, he became a unified WBA (super), IBF, IBO, and WBO champion and was on top of the world at heavyweight. The British fighter defended the four belts one time before being defeated by Andy Ruiz Jr. in one of the biggest upsets in boxing in the last decade. He would regain his titles in an immediate rematch with Ruiz and defend the belts one time, until running into Usyk.
Fans and critics were surprised to see Usyk’s new bulked up physique for this fight, but Joshua was not surprised and is not worried. "If you're a puncher, punchers aren't made, they're born," he said.
Joshua went on to say, "Bulking up, it's probably to help you absorb more punishment," he continued. "Lifting weights and all that doesn't really make you a puncher. But it may help you absorb more punishment."
"I can't speak on what his gameplan is or why he's done it. They know why. I want it to work for him because I want a good fight. I want to put on a good show," he insisted.
Usyk also surprised those that attended the final press conference with Joshua by being visibly more animated and calculated than he has in the past. Joshua claims that the champions behavior did not phase him. "I don't really take too much from a press conference, it is what it is. You say what you want to say and you do your best on Saturday night. That's what I'm focused on."
The 32-year-old is ready to prove he is the real undisputed champion. "I feel like the competitive spirit has risen up," he said. "This time, I don't care, I just want to win. Whatever it takes.
"So that might mean exerting more energy, more punch combinations so your mindset changes towards what your goals are. So this time my goal is just about competing, winning."
Joshua has only one prediction, "A 12-round war, anything short of that is a bonus."
The title fight can be seen on DAZN.
