Dillian Whyte believes Anthony Joshua is in the same “obsolete” mood heading into his clash with Oleksandr Usyk that he was before his defeat against Andy Ruiz Jr.
Joshua is set to defend his unified heavyweight titles against Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a bout many are billing as the toughest of his eight-year professional career.
His opponent, a former undisputed champion down at cruiserweight, is widely considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet after blitzing his way through that division.
But it remains to be seen whether the Ukrainian can cope with Joshua’s size and power when they collide in north London.
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
Whyte, who suffered defeat against AJ in 2015, expects his old adversary to prevail.
“I don’t think this fight’s as dangerous as everyone else is making out,” he said in an interview with iFL TV.
“This fight is as dangerous as Joshua makes it. If Joshua presses him, I think he’ll knock him out.
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(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
“If it goes to points, Usyk’s not gonna get a points decision because I think he’ll take a lot of damage.”
However, Whyte also claimed to have spotted signs that Joshua is approaching his clash with Usyk in the same mood as when he suffered the first defeat of his career against Ruiz in 2019.
“But also, Joshua can be mentally fragile sometimes, so Usyk can get in his head,” he added.
(Image: Getty)
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“Usyk’s doing the same sort of thing that Andy Ruiz was doing – smiling, taking pictures with his belts.
“And Joshua’s been a bit absent in my opinion. This week he’s been a bit absent and a bit strange, a bit obsolete.
“He’s just been a bit weird, I don’t know. Similar signs to when he fought Ruiz.
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
“But the difference is Ruiz had a lot of weight and a lot of power behind his punches. Usyk doesn’t.
“I just think it’s a win for Joshua to be honest. I actually pick him to knock Usyk out in the first six/seven rounds, if he presses him and doesn’t try to get into a boxing match with him.”