Usyk Opens Up on Joshua Bond and Forecasts Fury Showdown
In an exclusive interview, unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has lifted the lid on his burgeoning friendship with Anthony Joshua while delivering a bold prediction for a potential clash between Joshua and Tyson Fury. The Ukrainian star, who holds two victories over each British heavyweight, provided rare insights into the dynamics of the sport's top tier.
Training Partnership and Mutual Support
Usyk revealed that Joshua has been training with him in Ukraine following a devastating car crash in December that claimed the lives of two of Joshua's teammates. "I looked at how Anthony is training, he's a machine," Usyk stated. "But now I think Anthony needs help. We, people who support, we must say, 'Yeah, we do believe,' because a lot of people, you know..."
Drawing a parallel to his support for soccer team Dynamo Kyiv, Usyk emphasized the importance of positivity in sports: "Sometimes my team lose, but I don't say: 'You're bad, you're bad.' I say: 'Things happen, you must work.' I pray. I say 'it's normal', because it's a sport. But sometimes people are negative. They're not family, they're bulls***. Listen, we must help each other. If we don't help each other, we are not people, we are animals."
Fury Performance Assessment and Joshua Prediction
Regarding Fury's recent return to boxing after his fifth retirement—a victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium where Joshua watched from the front row—Usyk offered a measured critique: "Listen, it's not a good performance for me, but Tyson wins, [so] it's good. It's normal. Listen, I support Tyson Fury, you know? I get a lot of messages from my acquaintances and my friends: 'Oh, your friend won.' It's good."
Usyk admitted to nervousness during the fight, revealing he only watched the first six rounds before attending church, where he found himself mentally coaching Fury: "I said: 'Oh, be careful, hands up.'"
When pressed on whether Joshua would knock out Fury in their long-awaited showdown, Usyk responded: "I have no idea. I know he wins, but I don't know." This prediction comes despite Joshua's current physical challenges, with Usyk noting: "I think yes, [he's ready to fight,] but we need a little bit of time, because we know AJ has a problem with his body after the car crash. But yes, he can [fight]."
Usyk's Own Championship Preparations
The 39-year-old champion made these comments during the launch press conference for his next title defence, a WBC bout against kickboxing icon Rico Verhoeven. The historic fight is scheduled to take place at the pyramids of Giza on 23 May, marking another chapter in Usyk's remarkable career.
Usyk's unique perspective—having defeated both Joshua and Fury twice—adds significant weight to his assessment of the potential British heavyweight clash. His revelations about training with Joshua and offering support during recovery highlight the camaraderie that exists alongside the fierce competition in elite boxing.
