Anthony Joshua’s trainer Rob McCracken is confident his charge will exact his revenge on Oleksandr Usyk after losing his WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles to the Ukrainian southpaw at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium in Tottenham, England on Saturday night.
The 31-year-old Joshua 24-2 (22) was roundly outboxed by Usyk, who won by scores of 117-112, 115-113 and 116-112.
Joshua is expected to enact the rematch clause in his contract with the second fight likely to happen in the first quarter of next year.
“There is no drawing board to go back to, you’ve got to apply pressure with your jab and your right hand and you’ve got to keep him off balance,” McCracken said.
“And you’ve got to put shots together when you get there. Usyk is a good boxer and Anthony is still learning on the job and if he applies himself he will get the right result in the rematch.”
Former undisputed cruiserweight king Usyk, 34, stepped up to heavyweight two years ago for two victories before challenging Joshua.
Retired former world champion Carl Froch can’t see Joshua having much more success in the rematch.
“I thought AJ would get going and impose his advantages more,” Froch said. “The bigger size and reach and 19 pounds [heavier].
“If you want to beat a top boxer you don’t box him, you fight him. Don’t play them at their own game because then you give them all the advantages.
“AJ did that, he tried to box with Usyk and he is too good. I would have liked a stronger start from AJ but Usyk is a magician.
“He can start quicker and stronger in the rematch and get rough but the way Usyk finished the fight worries me because he could have relaxed and instead he took him on and tried to finish him.
“That told me he did to show him what could be coming in the rematch.
“What a fighter Usyk is. I have to say I don’t fancy AJ in the rematch. He has to seriously change his tactics and his game plan and get rough early.
“Apparently he has said he wants the rematch straight away but I think he needs to sleep on it and look over at what he did wrong and what he can improve on.
“I didn’t think AJ would lose like that. I never saw it coming that way because the ending was a bit of a beating.
“I am sure Joshua can come again but it depends how much he wants it because he has achieved so much and done so well.
“I do think Anthony Joshua can win the rematch. He does have the physicality but he needs different tactics and game plan. He needs to implement his size and stature a lot more and a lot earlier.”
