By: Sean Crose
“I’m happy to be here today,” WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweights Oleksandr Usyk said Wednesday at a press conference in London to promote his August 20 rematch with Anthony Joshua. . “I am delighted to have had the opportunity to fight in Saudi Arabia and help open up new horizons for the sport of boxing. I love traveling around the world and fighting in many places for the first time.” Sure, Usyk-Joshua 2 will premiere in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. After winning Joshua’s title last September in London, Ukraine’s Usyk will now find himself fighting further away from home. Not that it bothers the undefeated list.
“I am not fighting for money or any recognition,” he said. “I’m just doing my job now and will keep fighting until my heart keeps beating. I don’t expect anything from Anthony Joshua, but I know he’s going to be different, but so am I.” Usyk is wise to suspect things will be different for Joshua in their rematch, as Joshua hooked up with famed American trainer Robert Garcia as he prepares to face Usyk again.
“The whole team,” said Garcia, who was also present at the press conference, “everyone around us, was very positive. We must do whatever we can. We have to come up with different strategies in case one doesn’t work. We will be ready for battle. According to Garcia, Joshua is doing a good job and believes in his expertise. “Anthony is listening. He believes in us and that’s the most important thing. In the ring, he has to come out and do what we tell him to do. Garcia also knows a little about Usyk, which might help Joshua.
“Usyk is a great fighter,” he said. “I knew him from a few years ago when he came to my gym a few times to train. He is a very talented martial artist. He has very different fighting styles. Seeing the difference in size, height, reach, weight – everything worked in Anthony’s favor. We have to take advantage of that. We have to train him to focus on that and come fight night, do what we need to do to win. ”
As for Joshua, he made it clear that he is aware of what he has to do to earn his belt back and is working hard to make sure he does it. “It’s a tough and tough sport,” he admitted. “Fighting these unruly people is a nightmare! And I can’t make the same mistake twice. I’m hungry and desperate but at the end of the day I show how will tell”.
