Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua meet for the second and last time today before they cross the road in Saudi Arabia in August.
Both The heavyweights were in London for the next leg of their press conference tour starting in the Middle East to promote their August 20 rematch.
A victory for Joshua would make him a three-time heavyweight champion but the Briton advises current and upcoming boxers to avoid such a difficult path and hold onto the title and not let them go.
Joshua says keeping things simple will lead to victory over Jeddah:
“I’m like Ol ‘G”
“Dig deep, dig deep, don’t make the same mistake twice”
“If I Follow My ABC, It Will Lead to KO”
Advertiser Eddie Hearn is the one in the middle asking both of them questions. The room president asked Joshua if he wanted to win and if that was the right word, to which AJ replied:
“It’s desperate to get involved.”
“I talk too much. Noi it’s more actionable.”
“Definitely hungry – definitely desperate – at the end of the day, the way I perform will say a lot to the public.”
Usyk, who will defend the first three titles he won from Joshua last September, spoke through his translator and promoter Alex Krassyuk. The champion was asked if he expected another Joshua, who is currently coached by Robert Garciafrom the man he defeated nine months ago.
“I don’t expect anything from anyone because I think it’s stupid to expect anything from anyone else.”
“I understand that he will be different.”
“Me too.”
Usyk also says that this is not about money or recognition and instead offers a more philosophical reason to fight.
“I’ll keep doing this as long as my heart beats.”
“The only thing I’m on my way to is saving my soul.”
“But everything else that happens to me is just life.”
The pair engaged in a protracted confrontation where neither man was willing to give in by facing the camera despite Hearn’s demands.
What’s interesting, however, is that Usyk seems to have pulled out an imaginary sword and held it aloft as all the media attention is on. The Ukrainian smiled and walked away, allowing everyone to certainly have their own interpretation of what he did.
If you missed it, you can watch full replay of press conference on Boxing Social.
