Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk: Eddie Hearn claims the fight “could derail the career of Joshua”


Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk: Eddie Hearn claims the fight “could derail the career of Joshua”

Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk

Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk is set to take place sometime in September. The fight is scheduled to take place in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Usyk is the WBO mandatory challenger, and the boxing world reached such a position, just a few days after Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury was made official.

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An arbitrator then ruled that Fury must face Deontay Wilder in a trilogy bout before the 15th of September. Fury and co. had no other options but to agree to the fight. Hence the fight was agreed, and is set to take place on the 24th of July at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada. And, since Usyk is the WBO mandatory, Joshua will be fighting the Ukrainian.

‘He needs to show the ruthlessness of Derek Chisora’ – Eddie Hearn

Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, Matchroom Boxing CEO and Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn claimed that the fight could probably derail AJ’s career if he is not in his element. He said so because Usyk is a real challenge and is also featured in the top 10 in the pound-for-pound list.

Hearn was quoted as saying, “This is a fight that could derail the career of Joshua if he’s not on it, if he’s not 100 per cent. AJ needs to be ruthless. He needs to show the [ruthlessness of] Derek Chisora with more cuteness and sharpness.” [via Sky Sports]

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He continued, “Usyk just wants the fight, he wants the opportunity to become heavyweight champion. [Joshua] loves the fight. We all know it’s tricky, we all know it’s difficult. And this is a real challenge. Look at the pound-for-pound top-10 list, AJ is not on it. Usyk is.” [via Sky Sports]

Oleksandr Usyk is one of the most technical heavyweight boxers in the world

Now, Usyk might be the most technical opponent Joshua would have ever faced in his life. The Ukrainian made a move to the heavyweight division in 2019 after conquering the cruiserweight division to the fullest. He is still unbeaten in his career with 16 wins in his cruiserweight career and two in the heavyweight.

Joshua who is coming off a win against Kubrat Pulev in December last year, will have to be wary of the dangerous Ukrainian. Who do you think will win at Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk?

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