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Anthony Joshua: Oleksandr Usyk’s team urge British fighter to ‘show greatness’ in comeback fight vs Kristian Prenga

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Oleksandr Usyk's

Anthony Joshua is set to make his comeback to the ring against Kristian Prenga on Saturday in Saudi Arabia; the British fighter trained with Oleksandr Usyk’s team ahead of the fight; he insists he can still showcase his ruthless side.

Anthony Joshua VS Oleksandr Usyk's

Anthony Joshua has revealed that Oleksandr Usyk’s team urged him to “show greatness” as the two heavyweight giants trained together ahead of the Briton’s comeback fight.

Joshua trained alongside his former opponent as he prepared for his fight against Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia this Saturday.

The 36-year-old, a two-time world heavyweight champion, revealed how Usyk’s team told him to raise his standards even higher ahead of an expected British battle with Tyson Fury later this year.

“It’s an elite team. I got to see how he prepared for Rico Verhoeven [who Usyk beat in May],” Joshua told Sky Sports.

“But ultimately, it’s all down to Usyk, and it’s all down to me to do the work. The team has given us everything we need; now it’s just down to us to do the work.

“I’m quite good at what I do anyway. I’m quite strong. I can take, I can give, so sometimes I can just get away with doing enough but still be good enough.

“But these guys are like, ‘nah’. They want to see more. They want to see more, like bring it out

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Anthony Joshua says one man stands alone as the ‘best fighter in the world’

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Anthony Joshua

Still recognised as one of the ‘faces’ of boxing, Anthony Joshua is set to return to action next weekend. Now, ‘AJ’ has named the man whom he believes to currently be the ‘best fighter in the world’.

Anthony Joshua

Joshua has twice ruled as the unified heavyweight world champion, with an avenged defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr splitting his reign in two. However, two consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk later saw his governance of the division come to an end.

Since then, Joshua has suffered a devastating defeat to Daniel Dubois, when challenging for the IBF world title, but then bounced back with victory in an unconventional clash with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul – in his first outing under new trainer, Iegor Golub, who also coaches Usyk.

Speaking with DAZN Boxing, explained his move to work under Golub and alongside Usyk, whilst labelling the latter as the ‘best fighter on the planet’.[I went to train with Usyk because] he is the best in the world, so let’s go and see what he is doing, what barriers he is breaking down and what boundaries he is pushing.

“If I can emulate that in training, I think the results will follow in the ring.”

The Watford-born superstar then went on to reveal what he has been working on since partnering up with team Usyk, believing that time away from the spotlight of the United Kingdom has served him well.

One of my main issues was conditioning and their conditioning was supreme. I’m not talking about just doing S&C [Strength and Conditioning] and circuits in the gym for the sake of it – I’m talking about boxing conditioning.

“I have been there for weeks and weeks sometimes and we don’t even hit a pad. Sparring, bag work, shadowboxing, rounds of technical, improving your focus, improving your boxing IQ – it is good, man. I’ve still got so much room to improve, I’m getting my legs back, I’m getting my mind back in the game and staying away from home helps me get that focus that I need.”

 

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How Anthony Joshua gets called out for world title fight

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Anthony Joshua

WBC heavyweight champion, Agit Kabayel, has called out British-Nigerian boxer, Anthony Joshua, for a world title shot, insisting he is prepared to wait until the Briton settles his score with Tyson Fury before facing him in the ring.

Agit KabayelJoshua and Fury are expected to collide in November, though a date, venue and promoter are yet to be confirmed. Both fighters will first step into warm-up bouts against lower-ranked opponents on the same weekend, with Fury facing Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand, on July 24, and Joshua taking on Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a day later.

Should Joshua get past Prenga and subsequently beat Fury, he is expected to pursue a third world title reign, with Kabayel standing as a likely opponent.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the German champion, who has sparred both Joshua and Fury on separate occasions in the past, said he was ready to grant either man a shot at his belt once their rivalry is settled.

“Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, when you think you have a chance to be a three-time world champion, let’s do it. Kabayel will wait for you,” he said.

Tyson Fury

“We can make the fight, but first of all, I think all the fans, the British fans, want to see the Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury fight and, after that, we can see who’s best for the fight with me.

“First of all, AJ (for Fury), and after, why not? This is a big fight. We can also make this in Germany in a stadium. We can make this in the UK in a stadium.”

Anthony Joshua

Kabayel was elevated from interim to full WBC champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated his three belts to avoid mandatory defences, handing the German his first world title reign.

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Tyson Fury offered world title shot by new heavyweight champion: “Come on we’ll make the fight”

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Tyson Fury

Despite having his next two fights booked, Tyson Fury has been given the green light to fight for the WBC heavyweight world title by the recently upgraded champion.

Fury held the WBC belt between February 2022 and January 2024, making three successful defences before losing it to Oleksandr Usyk in their undisputed contest. Usyk carried the title until last month, when he vacated it along with his WBA and IBF straps.

 

WBC Interim champion Agit Kabayel was promptly upgraded to full champion, and talk has now turned to his first defence. Fury recently floated the idea of the match-up, pointing out his number one ranking with the sanctioning body.

Though Germany’s Kabayel had previously talked down the idea of fighting Fury, given their friendship outside of the ropes, he has now told the Ring Magazine that it is just ‘sport’ and would welcome the challenge.

“I respect him a lot, but Tyson called me out. When you have an interest in the fight, it’s sport, competition. I have no personality problem with the guy. When he has interest in the fight with me, why not? I respect him. He’s my big brother. When he says, ‘Agit, I want the belt,’ I say, ‘no problem brother, come on, we’ll make the fight.’”

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Kabayel will look to make the first defence of his belt later this year, hopefully in Germany, where he has proven he can draw an impressive crowd.

As for Fury, he has just this week announced a ‘warm-up’ fight against Polish veteran Mariusz Wach, with a view to moving ahead with a pre-signed Anthony Joshua bout in November. Should the ‘AJ’ deal fall through, Kabayel may be a viable option.

Kabayel will look to make the first defence of his belt later this year, hopefully in Germany, where he has proven he can draw an impressive crowd.

As for Fury, he has just this week announced a ‘warm-up’ fight against Polish veteran Mariusz Wach, with a view to moving ahead with a pre-signed Anthony Joshua bout in November. Should the ‘AJ’ deal fall through, Kabayel may be a viable option.

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