Oleksandr Usyk firmly believes in Anthony Joshua. The Ukrainian predicts that AJ will knock out Tyson Fury in the sixth round of their bout.
When Oleksandr Usyk talks about Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, the boxing world listens especially closely. After all, the Ukrainian has already faced both British fighters and knows their strengths firsthand. For the reigning heavyweight world champion, it’s therefore clear who he thinks has the better chances in the highly anticipated “Battle of Britain.”
His favorite is Anthony Joshua. And that’s not all: Usyk even expects the former world champion to end the fight early. In an interview with the British Mirror , the 39-year-old left no room for interpretation and predicted a knockout in the sixth round—caused by a straight right from Joshua.
Opponents Became Allies
It’s remarkable that Usyk is rooting for Joshua of all people. After all, he stripped the Brit of his titles in two world championship fights. Today, however, the two are working closely together. Joshua is drawing on the experience of the Ukrainian and his coaching staff to prepare for the biggest challenge of his career.
For Usyk, this development is only logical. Above all, he values Joshua’s willingness to critically examine himself and break new ground. Anyone who wants to continue to grow must accept their own mistakes and learn from them. It is precisely this quality that sets Joshua apart. The Ukrainian emphasizes that the Olympic champion has matured in recent months—not only as a boxer but also as a person. That’s why he believes Joshua is capable of bringing out the best version of himself against Fury.
While preparations are in full swing, only one key decision remains for the mega-fight. Although both sides are said to have already signed their contracts, there has been no official confirmation yet as to where the bout will take place. Both the United Kingdom and the United States are being considered as possible venues. Promoter Eddie Hearn expects this issue to be resolved in the coming days. Usyk, on the other hand, has long since made up his mind. As far as he’s concerned, Joshua will emerge victorious in the end—and well before the final bell.
Text by Robin Josten