The promoter of the WBC heavyweight title holder (over 101.6 kg) British Tyson Fury Frank Warren (Queensberry Promotion) gave
interview for the British media.
The functionary commented on today’s rematch between the unified champion from Ukraine Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) and former British champion Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs). Warren is confident that Joshua does not have enough skills to defeat the Ukrainian, and also believes that if he loses, the Briton will become the division’s gatekeeper.
– Who do you think will win on Saturday in Saudi Arabia and how will this fight go?
– I can only judge by the previous fight. And before the fight, you watch what these two are. Now Usyk has probably changed his diet because he’s a heavyweight and doesn’t have to do the weight limit he did in cruiserweight. So he probably has different dietary requirements. I don’t like seeing fighters bloat in size. I like speed. I prefer speed over weight gain. And he’s a good boxer, he’s a good tactician. He completely outboxed Joshua in the last fight and could have stopped him. Looking at the last round, he could stop him.
People look at the fighters and also look at the coaches. Usyk has a great coach. Lomachenko Sr. is an amazing coach. Look what he did to his son. He brings out the best in fighters. Look at their balance. They have excellent balance. They are very economical in what they do and they are very good at it. I just like him as a coach. I think he is an amazing mentor.
Rematch for three Usyk-Joshua titles: referees and judges announced – there is a Ukrainian
Usyk said that he boxed according to instructions. He was told not to knock him out and he did just that. He shook it several times and almost stopped it. This time, I think it will be a different fight. Usyk knows he can drop him, he knows he can outbox him, so it’s more about Joshua’s actions. He has a new coach now. I don’t know how the camp went, but he has a good coach, a very good coach. But can he change Joshua’s actions at this age?
This fight is a jab fight. Whoever goes out there and dictates the course of the fight should do it behind the jab. If it’s Joshua, he should go to the center of the ring and hold this position and put pressure. But if he backs off himself, like against Ruiz in the second fight… He won’t outbox him. He has to go out and put himself up, show that he is in charge, that he is the boss, to deliver blows to him. But by doing this, you leave yourself open. You start throwing these bombs… Of course, if he catches Usyk, he can knock him out, because he is a big puncher. But when you throw those punches, you open up. If a right or left splatter is flying and your chin is up, you may be shocked. So can he do it all 12 rounds? This requires discipline. Does he have the necessary means to do so? Does he have here [показывает на грудь], to do this? Does he have the desire to do so? Because in a few extreme fights he was shocked a few times against fighters who shouldn’t have given him any problems.
This time he is in a difficult situation. I’m sure he understands that if he loses this fight, he will become a gatekeeper if he continues to box. I’m sure he can take part in meaningful fights, but that aura of his invulnerability will be gone forever. I just don’t seem to be able to see him do it. Can’t see. I don’t think he has it, I don’t think he has the skill set and mindset to do it. I really think so. I believe that Usyk completely saw through him. And I feel that he will break him and rip out his heart. I think Usyk will stop him.
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