By: Sean Crose
“For sure the hunger is still there,” Anthony Joshua said during Tuesday’s press conference to promote his August 20 rematch against the IBF, WBA and WBO, world heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk . “As I said at the beginning,” he continued, “stay hungry.” Joshua will have to be hungry if he wants to win later this summer. Usyk is a boxer with insane skill, something Joshua learned the hard way when Usyk won Joshua’s title in their first bout last September. However, Joshua had walked this path before. In 2019, he was defeated on his US debut by Andy Ruiz, he then lost the title in the process.
Joshua won his title back six months later by changing his style and outplaying Ruiz until the final bell of their rematch. That match was held in Saudi Arabia, as was the rematch against Usyk. Joshua clearly hopes to keep his victories fighting in the Middle Eastern Kingdom. Joshua continued during the press conference: “There are things that happen in life, but resilience, mental stability will always prevail.” By making the right adjustments, both in and out of the ring, Joshua feels he can once again become a heavyweight heavyweight.
“I know I can come back and do what I have to,” he said, referring to the defeat to Usyk last September. “I am responsible for myself. I’m someone who can admit when I’m wrong and hold my head up when I’m right.” Famous American coach Robert Garcia and teammate Joshua helped the London tennis player hold his head high in victory again. “I see a different Anthony now, the way he thinks, the way he walks,” Garcia said. “I think he fought the wrong thing (but) that’s in the past. It already happened. ”
Again, this isn’t the first time Joshua has found himself having to adjust. After all, he has to make them to get the best Ruiz in their rematch. And, on the surface at least, the tall English player exuded confidence during Tuesday’s press conference. “If you know me and my many stories, you probably know I’m king again,” Joshua said. “You can knock me down but it’s very difficult to keep me down.” Title defender Usyk, who was also present at the press conference, appeared to take those words seriously, as he refused to take his eyes off Joshua, even after they faced off a few minutes later.
