On August 20, Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua will face off in what is arguably the biggest heavyweight match of the year in Saudi Arabia. WBC world champion Tyson Fury sees the Ukrainian clearly ahead, but believes his compatriot is capable of a surprise coup.
The first fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua ended up being a clear affair. The Ukrainian was ahead on all three points and celebrated a well deserved and unanimous victory on points. In the closing seconds of round 12, Joshua only avoided a crushing knockout defeat thanks to luck and the bell.
“AJ” has big plans for the second duel on August 20th. With a new coach and a new tactic, he wants to get his world championship belt back. If everything goes “normal”, he will not succeed, says Tyson Fury.
Usyk was just too smart for Joshua, Fury looked ahead to the fight in an interview with “talkSPORT”: “He’s too smart, too fast and a southpaw”, the “Gypsy King” listed the advantages of Usyk.
The fact that Joshua wants to use a different tactic with his new coach Robert Garcia is of no use in Fury’s eyes. “If he tells him to box more forward and be more aggressive, that will only result in Usyk scoring more often. But what do I know,” Fury explained.
In the end, a single punch is enough in the heavyweight division, the WBC world champion emphasized that in his eyes Joshua is not completely without a chance. “Last time it wasn’t a landslide win either, Usyk had some scratches on his face. Usyk isn’t difficult to hit, he’s mostly right in front of you, so of course Joshua can land a big punch too.”
“Usyk is just too good as a boxer”
Ultimately, Fury is convinced of that, but even the often quoted “Puncher’s Chance” will not save Joshua. “I think Usyk is just too good a boxer for AJ. And I don’t think AJ is capable of putting him under pressure for 12 rounds, getting him in a dirty fight and knocking him out,” explained the Gypsy King. .
You have to be a “very special person” to do something like that, Fury added: “And I think Joshua doesn’t have what it takes. He’s satisfied with second place and happy with it. And if you is ready for that, you don’t have to say more.”