Anthony Joshua will need to ‘make drastic changes’ to win his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, claims Joe Joyce, who believes he’d have a ‘much closer fight’ against the Ukrainian
British heavyweight Joe Joyce has tipped WBA, IBF and WBO title holder Oleksandr Usyk to beat Anthony Johsua in a rematch.
Joyce claimed that Joshua would need to make drastic changes to beat Usyk and reclaim his belts for a second time, before calling out the Ukrainian fighter.
“Juggernaut” Joyce last fought the Ukrainian in 2013, when both were amateurs, but believes he has what it takes to beat him this time around.
Anthony Joshua lost his WBA, IBF and WBO belts to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 for the second time
He told Boxing Social how he thought Joshua would struggle, saying: ‘I thought as soon as the fight started with him and Usyk, Usyk went straight to work.
‘He knew how to beat Joshua and now that he’s already beaten him, to do it again will be kind of the same. That’s unless Joshua makes some drastic changes.
‘I think it will be a repeat unless Joshua can do something drastically different and just nail him down.
Joe “Juggernaut” Joyce claims Joshua will struggle to reclaim his belts against the Ukrainian
‘Joshua can obviously bang, he has fast hands and decent footwork. He fought the wrong fight when they fought first, he tried to outbox the boxer.
‘I’ve said on multiple occasions he could have gone out there, roughed him up, walked him down, and tried to knock him out. I think that’s what he’s going to have to try and do.
‘I’ve been in the ring with Usyk and I felt like I put on a better performance, Chisora put on a great performance against Usyk. That was much closer than the one against Joshua.’
Joshua lost his three belts for the second time to Usyk after a unanimous points decision back in September 2021, having suffered a shock defeat to Andy Ruiz in 2019, the first of the Brit’s career.
The highly anticipated rematch between Joshua and Usyk has been continuously delayed as a result of broadcasting issues, but an announcement is expected in the next week from Eddie Hearn declaring a date for the fight to take place.
Joyce is undefeated in 13 bouts as a professional, winning 12 by knockout, and believes he should be first in line to challenge the winner of Joshua v Usyk II
Joyce called out the Ukrainian fighter, who defeated him when they last fought back in 2013
The 36-year-old 2016 Olympic silver medallist believes he would come into a fight against Usyk, 35, with a lot more to his game than when the two last squared off, nine years ago.
He told Boxing Social: ‘I’ll be coming with more skills. I have Salas by my side to set the game plan and work on the skills etc.
‘I didn’t even get southpaw sparring for the first fight I had with Usyk. I think that on the repeat, styles make fights and I reckon I’ll bang him up.’
Source: Daily Mail Online