Former undisputed boxing world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has given Anthony Joshua his advice on how to beat Tyson Fury in their anticipated all-British superfight later this year.
New footage released on X shows the Ukrainian advising the British heavyweight on how best to make such a fight go in his favour.
In the footage, which shows the pair training in the same gym, Usyk says that Fury often backs up into the corner in early rounds so opponents advance, and that he then uses his long reach to land counter punches. Usyk says he was expecting this game plan in their fight and that it is best to wait until after the sixth round to advance, when Fury tires and loses his speed.
Joshua may be wise to listen to the man they call “The Cat.” Usyk beat The Gypsy King two times via decision, one a split and one unanimous, and he has an undefeated professional boxing record of 25-0. Usyk is also the only man in the four-belt era to become the undisputed heavyweight champion when he beat Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia in May 2024.
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Both British fighters are scheduled to fight this weekend as they work towards that November date.
Anthony Joshua will face Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga on Saturday at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia, while Fury will fight Poland’s Mariusz Wach in Thailand today for the inaugural WBC Metta Humanitarian Belt.
Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury Failed Fights
Fury and Joshua had agreed to fight in 2021, even signing a deal, but the bout fell through as the former was ordered to complete a trilogy fight against Deontay Wilder.
Fury has recently, though, cast doubt on the match-up, suggesting the bout may yet still collapse and that he is prepared to fight somebody else if it was necessary.
The remarks from The Gypsy King drew fierce criticism from Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn, who said that Fury is, in fact, the more likely to pull out and that it was he that pulled out of the failed 2021 fight.
Video: Usyk Teaching Joshua How to Beat Fury
“Check the facts, check the resume. If you really want to pick one fighter who’s more reliable than the other, I don’t think it’s a close-run race,” Hearn said.
“He’s got the most solid resume and the most professional attitude of any fighter I’ve ever worked with. Can we say the same about Tyson Fury? No. That’s the reality of the situation,” he added.