By: Sean Crose
If anybody is aware of what it’s prefer to face Oleksandr Usyk it’s former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. For Joshua misplaced his titles to the skillful Ukrainian in 2021, then misplaced a rematch to Usyk in 2022. Once more, Joshua is aware of what it’s prefer to face Usyk, most likely higher than anybody. Now, as Joshua prepares for a excessive profile bout with UFC heavyweight champion turned boxer Francis Ngannou, the towering Englishman has let the world know who he thinks will win the upcoming throwdown between Usyk and WBC heavyweight kingpin Tyson Fury. “I feel Usyk will win,” Joshua instructed iFLTV.
In reality, Joshua has by no means met his fellow Brit Fury within the ring, although the combat world has been salivating for that specific matchup for what appears to have been ions. Whereas he is aware of all too properly what Usyk brings right into a combat, Joshua actually doesn’t know what it’s prefer to battle Fury after the opening bell has rung. Nonetheless, it’s fascinating to study that Joshua has picked Usyk over the bombastic Fury.
“In all probability Fury, logically,” Joshua outright admitted when requested who he wished to win the Fury-Usyk matchup, “as a result of it’s a much bigger combat. Effectively, that’s if he (Fury) fights me, he at all times says he doesn’t need to combat. But it surely’s a much bigger combat for me down the road if he wins. That’s the one motive I’d say Fury, for my very own profit. Very egocentric causes.” There’s additionally the matter, in fact, of Joshua not solely shedding to Usyk twice, however shedding decisively on each events. It’s probably the general public wouldn’t clamor for a 3rd go spherical between the 2.
With all that being mentioned, Joshua has a substantial problem to face himself this week. He’s preventing Ngannou on Friday (American time) in any case. It wouldn’t look like a lot of a matchup, frankly, had Ngannou not put Fury on the mat throughout his boxing debut a number of months again. Whereas Joshua remains to be anticipated to win in opposition to the blended martial artist this weekend, there’s little doubt that Ngannou possess energy, dedication and maybe extra ability than he’s been given credit score for. But Joshua seemed relaxed and self composed within the iFLTV interview. In different phrases, he’ll probably enter the ring this Saturday assured in his personal talents – one thing that’s important if one needs to win an expert combat, whether or not it’s in opposition to a champion from the game of boxing or a champion making the leap from one other sport totally.
