Nigerian-born boxer Anthony Joshua faces a major test in his bid to record his 25th career win when he comes up against Oleksandr Usyk, a former undisputed cruiserweight world champion in London on Saturday (today.
So far, Joshua has recorded 24 wins and a loss in 25 bouts since he turned professional in 2013.
The fight against Usyk will be Joshua’s third fight on English soil in the last three years after his wins over Alexander Povetkin at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in 2018 and Wladimir Klitschko.
Incidentally, Usyk will be the second Ukrainian boxer, Joshua will be hoping to defeat after he technically knocked out Klitschko at the Wembley Stadium in London, England in 2017.
The 34-year-old Ukrainian on his part has won all his 18 professional fights and Joshua will be the third British fighter that Usyk will face after beating Tony Bellew in November 2018 and Derek Chisora in October 2020.
Joshua and Usyk each won Olympic gold medals at London 2012. Since then, while Joshua has become a two-time heavyweight champion, Usyk won the undisputed cruiserweight title.
Joshua who is bidding to become only the third boxer to win world titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight also said on Friday after a tense final stare-down at the weigh-in that he hopes to win with more ease.
In his words “Now I should be able to do the 12 rounds easily because weight does make a difference.
“As long as you are loose, nimble. Loose and heavy, relaxed shots. I should be good.
“I was heavier and doing it so, now that I’m lighter, I should be able to do it with more ease.”
“There is no game-plan. Just win. Because you never know what is going to happen when the first bell goes.”
“Respect? Fear? It’s just a fight. I’m not someone who will be disrespectful unless someone is disrespectful to me.
“I respect the man. He has achieved phenomenal things.”
