Former sparring partner of the unified heavyweight champion Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) and former British champion Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs), British heavyweight prospect Fabio Wardley (13-0, 12 KOs) in
interview local media spoke about the upcoming rematch between Usyk and Joshua, which is scheduled for August 20 in Saudi Arabia.
Wardley admitted that it is difficult for him to imagine the victory of his compatriot in a rematch, based on the experience of sparring and the first confrontation.
– There have already been repeated duels between the views of Usyk and Joshua. People have different opinions. What can you say about them?
– A little. It’s all dust in the eyes. Especially with someone like Usyk. 90% of the time he’s there for laughs. He’s making jokes there. I know him. I spent a lot of time around him. He hardly even takes himself seriously. He’s having fun on camera, enjoying the moment. I don’t think that it somehow affects the training and preparation for the fight. I think he’s just having a good time.
– Ahead of Usyk and Joshua’s revenge. I know you sparred with both. How do you see the rematch going?
“I see a repeat of the first fight, unfortunately. I said, “Unfortunately,” because I always support my own. I want Joshua to win, he’s British. He made the right decision – he invited Robert Garcia. Different coach, different elements, but is there enough time to implement it, do something, work it all out and develop a plan for the fight? And not only implement a plan that will work against anyone, but will work against the technical boxer Oleksandr Usyk. Unfortunately, it is difficult to imagine how he will succeed.
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Did their first fight surprise you?
– Not. Absolutely not. Usyk is demanding of reason. He puts tremendous pressure on you in various ways: with his movements of the arms, legs, shifting of the shoulders, head. Even with your eyes it makes you think that something is about to happen. And you saw at the end of the fight that Joshua’s tank was empty, there was nothing left. And it’s all because of these small details of the work Usyk does.
How would you describe its strength? People want to know.
Don’t get me wrong, he doesn’t have that clean knockout punch like Deontay Wilder or Joshua, but the thing is, he delivers punches so accurately and so consistently that you take losses. Up, down, then hook, then this, then that. He throws 5-6 punches and you can’t catch or block them. They will reach their destination cleanly. That’s where you’re losing.
Haye does not exclude that Joshua will again lose to Usyk and end his career