Commentator and TV boxing expert, trainer and YouTube martial arts columnist Teddy Atlas in broadcast last edition of The FIGHT with Teddy Atlas podcast commented on the rematch between the unified heavyweight champion (over 90.7 kg) from Ukraine Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) and former British champion Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs).
Recall that the fight is scheduled for August 20 in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).
“I think the fight can go according to different scenarios. First of all, I think Usyk will win. I can’t go against Usyk. How can I go against such a fighter. There is no reason. He was the undisputed cruiserweight champion, unified all titles, the best cruiser ever except Holyfield. He’s an Olympian, he doesn’t know how to lose. And he went into the ring against a big fighter and made an upset. So did Holyfield, who moved up from cruisers to heavyweight and went up against Buster Douglas. Usyk did the same and beat Joshua.”
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“This terrible war with Russia that is now in Ukraine is the X factor. Usyk or will fight with more force, if you will, with more incentive, with more motivation … He is a proud man, representing the hope of Ukrainians. Or the war could have had an effect on After seeing his cities destroyed, his country torn apart, people killed, he can look at it this way: “You know what? In the scheme of life, boxing is not as important as life.” And that might change it a bit. I don’t know how. for it. His versatility, his intelligence…”
“I’ve said it before. You can misunderstand me, it’s all up to you. Sometimes I think Joshua is too good of a loser. I don’t want to say that he’s a pathetic loser, but I say that sometimes it looks like Joshua accepts defeat too easy. Like he did against Ruiz the first time. Almost like a guy who made too much money. Do I know what he is like inside? No. I can only say what I think. And sometimes it seems to me that it doesn’t matter to him anymore.”
Usyk raised £100,000 for the evening for Ukrainians affected by the Russian invasion
