With fight night soon approaching, promoters, trainers, and boxers have weighed in on who they believe will come out victorious in the rematch between unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and British heavyweight Anthony Joshua.
Eddie Hearn
“I think this fight will be over in six rounds. I think it’s going to be a war. I don’t think Usyk wants to be walked down by ‘AJ,’ wants to box off the back foot against aggressive Anthony Joshua and I expect him to be aggressive and I think he’s (Usyk) going to get knocked out.”
Prediction: Joshua by KO
Tyson Fury
“[AJ] has a cat in hells chance!”
Prediction: Usyk retains
Frank Warren
“I was quite surprised how easily Usyk handled him (Joshua) in the first fight, and it seemed to me he was boxing to orders. He wasn’t out there trying to take him out but there was a couple of times in the fight, certainly in the last round, where I think [Usyk] could’ve stopped him. And I think this time around, I think [Usyk] will stop him.”
Prediction: Usyk by stoppage
George Groves
“He’ll [Usyk] be supremely confident going into this fight, he travels well, he’s been all over the world, boxing [and] winning, beating people in their back garden. So, I think he’ll be a big favourite going into this fight and I think he wins again.”
Prediction: Usyk retains
Peter Fury
“Be a better fight for ‘AJ’ this time. But Usyk, he’s in a Rubik’s cube, he’s very complicated and he’s got power…But the only man who can beat this fella is Joshua himself. He’s got to believe in himself and change his tactics tenfold.”
Prediction: Sitting on the fence
David Allen
“I think Usyk wins…by stoppage. I think Garcia will send Joshua out there aggressive and that will be his undoing.”
Prediction: Usyk by stoppage
Darren Barker
“I honestly don’t think Usyk can be beaten. I just think that he’s a master and until he is beaten or I’m proved otherwise I just think he’s unbeatable right now…I think Usyk wins this one, but I will say I hope I’m wrong because I like ‘AJ’ and I’m big fan of him and what he’s done for British boxing.”
Prediction: Usyk retains
Anthony Crolla
“I think you got to make Usyk a favourite after the style with which he won last time, but, with someone with the athleticism and natural size advantage and power that ‘AJ’ carries you know it’s going to be exciting to watch.”
Prediction: Usyk retains
Luke Campbell
“Firstly, he’s (Joshua) taking it very serious. He started a training camp before he was due to start a training camp so I know he’s taking it serious, I know he’s changing his mindset and the things he’s doing. I think he goes in there and gets the KO.”
Prediction: Joshua by KO
Ismael Salas
“If you look [at] the numbers, Usyk is a bit favoured. But I believe ‘AJ’ can turn this thing over if ‘AJ’ can follow the Robert Garcia guidance. So I can say 50-50 is my prediction it go to either way.”
Prediction: Sitting on the fence
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