Anthony Joshua's Surprising New Training Regime Revealed
In a stunning announcement that has sent ripples through the boxing world, Anthony Joshua has confirmed he will be working with the training team of his former rival, Oleksandr Usyk, as he prepares for his upcoming blockbuster fight against Jake Paul. The two-time heavyweight world champion made the revelation during Friday's press conference officially announcing the bout, scheduled for December 19 at the Kaseya Center.
The Stakes and The Rules of The Fight
The highly anticipated contest features a staggering £140million prize pot, which will be split evenly between the 35-year-old Joshua and the 28-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer. This marks Joshua's first return to the ring since his devastating defeat to Daniel Dubois 14 months ago. The fight will be an eight-round contest fought over three-minute rounds with 10oz gloves, setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter.
Joshua's Strategic Camp Switch
Following his loss to Dubois, Joshua parted ways with trainer Ben Davison, sparking widespread speculation about his next move. Rumours of a potential link-up with Usyk's camp intensified when Joshua was spotted ringside with Usyk and the Ukrainian’s camp manager, Sergey Lapin, during Saul Canelo Alvarez’s fight with William Scull. The speculation reached fever pitch when Joshua was recently seen training alongside Usyk’s strength and conditioning coach. Joshua has now put all doubts to rest, stating, 'I have been invited to train with Team Usyk. He is the best in the world and I have been in Spain with them. I have been training with them for a few weeks.' This move represents Joshua's fourth trainer change since his split with Rob McCracken, having also worked with Robert Garcia and Derrick James before Ben Davison.
Jake Paul acknowledged the formidable nature of this development, admitting, 'He is training with the best in the world. He is one of the best in the world so we expect nothing less.' However, Paul remained defiant about his own chances, vowing, 'I want the best version. It is a big mistake to look past this... I am knocking this guy out, becoming the CEO of Matchroom and it's me vs Tyson Fury next year.' Having lost to Usyk twice, Joshua is clearly hoping to tap into the expertise that once outclassed him as he seeks to rebuild his career, with a potential blockbuster showdown against Tyson Fury in 2026 looming on the horizon.
