Former world champion and current boxing columnist Briton Johnny Nelson knows that sometimes you need to throw a little on the fan to stay on trend. It is he who is the author of the ridiculous statement that the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) is an unremarkable lightweight boxer.
August 20 in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) unified heavyweight champion, ex-cruiserweight champion, winner superseries and OI-2012, Usyk will have a rematch with the previous owner of the WBA Super, IBF, WBO belts, Briton Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs). The first fight took place in September in London (England) – the Ukrainian won by decision of the judges.
Nelson is pleasedthat Joshua is already in Saudi Arabia: “This is a good sign. He will undergo acclimatization, adapt to the local heat. He will stay there for a long time, so Saudi Arabia will become something dear to him, almost a second home. The legendary Muhammad Ali once did the same when he fought George Foreman in the jungle. I think he will soon take everyone there – his team and sparring partners. He wants to make things right. He shows how determined he is for this fight.”
Nelson is sure that the second fight will not resemble the first fight in any way: “There is nothing impossible in Joshua’s task. He has everything to win. It is only necessary not to be mistaken with tactics. Since they have already boxed, they have studied each other well – they know the strengths and vulnerabilities. Usyk may want to fight more aggressively, as in the first fight he almost won ahead of schedule in the later rounds. But Joshua also understands that Usyk should not be allowed to dictate terms. He can go all-in by pressing his opponent hard.”
“Both will have absolutely different tactics,” the expert is sure. Usyk wants to win ahead of schedule. Joshua will want to destroy the opponent, because he knows that with each subsequent round it will be more and more difficult. He knows Usyk shouldn’t be allowed to feel comfortable in the ring.”
And the expert shared his opinion about the new coach Joshua: “Robert Garcia will put Anthony in a new mindset and attitude. Joshua is a gentleman. He is polite, courteous. But he can’t go into battle with the same attitude that he had the previous time. Otherwise, he will lose again. It must be 100% positive. He must feel confident. He understands the meaning of this fight. Understands its complexity. He knows that if nothing is changed, then one should not expect a different result.
Yesterday, Usyk’s ex-coach James Ali Bashir said that “the rematch will not last 7 rounds” and responded to Nelson’s scandalous statement.
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