Former boxer turned promoter Dmitriy Salita cannot see a path to victory for Anthony Joshua 24-2 (22) when he clashes with Oleksandr Usyk 19-0 (13) in an immediate rematch in Saudi Arabia on August 20.
The 32-year-old Brit lost his WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles to Ukrainian southpaw Usyk, 35, by unanimous decision when they first met in September last year.
Usyk used speed, angles and timing to defeat the reigning unified champion by scores of 117-112, 115-113 and 116-112. Joshua did have some success as was evident in Usyk’s marked up face at the end of the contest, but it was generally limited.
Consensus opinion says that Joshua needs to impose his superior size and power on the smaller Usyk, but that is easier said than done.
Salita, who was born in Ukraine but boxed out of Brooklyn, New York, is backing in Usyk to get the job done again.
“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,” Salita told BoyleSports Boxing.
“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.
“This isn’t to take anything away from AJ, he’s a great fighter and did some amazing things in his career, but when he beat [Wladimir] Klitschko that was the peak of his career. And after that, he’s been progressively slipping down just a little bit every fight.
“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. The only thing that AJ has in his favor 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? No one really knows.”
