Home Boxing News Anthony Joshua in training for Oleksandr Usyk rematch

Anthony Joshua in training for Oleksandr Usyk rematch

Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk

Anthony Joshua 24-2 (22) is already in training for his immediate rematch with conqueror Oleksandr Usyk 19-0 (13).

Joshua lost his WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles to Ukrainian southpaw Usyk by unanimous decision at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium in Tottenham, England on September 25. The scores were 117-112, 115-113 and 116-112.

Joshua attempted to box Usyk and didn’t impose his size against the challenger. Usyk, 35, was able to hurt Joshua at least twice in the bout, including in the 12th and final round when Joshua appeared to be out on his feet.

The 32-year-old Brit enacted the rematch clause in his contract with the former undisputed cruiserweight champion. The return bout is expected to take place in the first quarter of the new year.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn said the former champion is already in light training and focusing his mind on what he needs to do differently next time against Usyk.

“He’s just been chilling, traveling around,” the Matchroom Boxing boss said to Boxing Social about Joshua.

“He’s already training already. I was with him this morning and he’s training and he’s starting to get his head switched on for the rematch.”

Hearn lamented the lack of aggression from Joshua against Usyk, who tried to outbox the boxer.

“I need to see aggression,” said Hearn of what he needs to see from Joshua. “You need to see ruthless instincts. You saw Usyk’s face after the fight. [Joshua] hardly landed on him.

“He can do some serious damage, but Usyk is a brilliant fighter and he’s going to have to switch it up. I think he’s switched on to make the changes.”

Joshua has come back from defeat before. After Andy Ruiz Jr 34-2 (22) knocked him out in seven rounds at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden in June 2019, he rebounded to score a near-shutout victory in the return bout six months later.

The bout against Usyk only came about when WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury 31-0-1 (22) was forced into a third fight against Deontay Wilder 42-2-1 (41) after an independent arbitrator ruled he had a contractual obligation to face his old rival again.

Joshua and Fury were expected to face each other in the northern summer.

Fury stopped Wilder in the penultimate round of their fight in Las Vegas earlier this month.

Fury’s co-promoter Bob Arum recently suggested that Joshua should step aside to allow Fury to face Usyk in a rare four-belt unification bout.

“Why step aside to let two guys fight and we may not fight him after that anyway. ‘Oh, we’ll have that in the contract’,” said Hearn. “You don’t know what’s going to happen.

“That’s probably why Wilder didn’t step aside because he thought, ‘I won’t get the winner’. So there’s no stepping aside [by Joshua]. AJ, all he wants to do is knock Usyk out and that’s what he’s focused on.”