I’ll do my ABCs to land a big KO
AJ ‘desperate’ to take belts back off Usyk
ANTHONY JOSHUA says he is “definitely hungry and desperate” to become world heavyweight champion again as he chases a knockout in his make-or-break reunion with Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua was outclassed last September by his Ukrainian rival, who defied disadvantages in height, reach and weight to claim the WBA, IBF and WBO titles with a clear unanimous decision victory in London.
Many observers believe Joshua’s best route to victory in the return bout in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on August 20 is inside the distance, using his physical superiority to disrupt the 35-yearold’s rhythm.
Having linked up with new trainer Robert Garcia, Joshua hinted that is the game plan.
But the former two-time world heavyweight champ refused to stoke the fires too much at a press call in London.
The 32-year-old from Watford said: “What happened then is in the past.
“I don’t really live in the past, I’m just present.
“I’ll be looking to be competing round by round and if I follow my
Less talk, more action. I’m not a comedian or like big speeches
ANTHONY JOSHUA ON HIS UNYIELDING FOCUS
As, Bs and Cs, it should lead me to KO. Someone said to me, ‘You’ve got a chance to become threetime heavyweight champion of the world’.
“I said, ‘It’s not where you want to be, I wouldn’t advise anyone young to go down that route’.
“You want to stay there and keep it, so I’m definitely desperate to get my hands on it. “There’s too much talking. Less talk, more action. I’m not a comedian, I’m not someone who likes big speeches.
“Let me get in there and do my job, that’s my priority.
“I’m definitely hungry, definitely desperate. But how I perform will speak volumes to the masses.”
While Joshua has revealed he was troubled by Usyk’s southpaw stance last time, he insists there is not much to draw on – despite sharing 12 rounds with the former undisputed world cruiserweight champion.
He added: “It’s a rough and tough sport, especially fighting these lefties – they’re a nightmare.
“It is what it is. You’ve got to dig deep, tuck up and not make the same mistake twice, basically.”