Exclusive:
Eubank Jr has predicted that Joshua will be too intense for Usyk in their heavyweight clash next weekend and has heaped praise on Joshua’s technical boxing ability shown in his rematch with Andy Ruiz.
Chris Eubank Jr has predicted Anthony Joshua will be too powerful for Oleksandr Usyk in their unified heavyweight world title clash next weekend.
AJ makes his ring debut in a big showdown at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in the latest in his series of world title defenses against the tricky Ukrainian.
The Briton was scheduled to fight Tyson Fury in a historic, undisputed bout. However, the fight was canceled after Fury faced Deontay wilder in a three-round fight after a contract dispute.
And Eubank Jr has predicted that Joshua will be “too strong” for Usyk on the night despite acknowledging the Ukrainian “smart” boxing style.
“It is a fun fight, but Joshua is too big, too strong, and too tough,” Eubank Jr told Mirror Fighting.
“Usyk is extremely smart and can certainly box; he has shown that at cruiserweight,, but I don’t think he has the size to beat someone like Anthony.
“And Anthony has shown that he is brilliant too. He demonstrated that in the rematch with Ruiz,, where he boxed well.
“So personally, I would fancy Anthony to win that fight.”
Joshua could well face a stern test against the tough Ukrainian who is undefeated and has previously reigned as undisputed cruiserweight champion before moving up to the blue-ribbon division.
But the 31-year-old has revealed that he is targeting a “trim down” as he looks to use his technical boxing and size advantage in a “fight for the brain.”
Anthony Joshua signed Derek Chisora to sports management company after David Haye split.
“I’m looking trim for this fight. I’m fighting a guy who is a 12-round fighter. So it would be silly of me to go in there bulky with my muscles screaming for oxygen,” he told Sky Sports.
“I’ve been training like a 15-round fighter in this camp. I will be well-conditioned to fight. That is key. What happens when I train that way? My body adapts and takes its natural form. This is the form it has taken.
“You can’t be stationary to get hit. Movement is important. Movement is essential. Concentration – when you want to [punch], you lock in, then make a move. It is crucial to ensure your brain functions properly. It can be mentally exhausting, so I am working to sharpen my mind to concentrate for the 12 rounds.
“Also, I practice having the ability to [punch] four times, not just once. It’s a fight for the brain. Knowing what you’ve got in front of you and knowing how to deal with it.
“You can either be aggressive, corner [him], throw everything at it. Or take your time, be clever, then knock [him] out.”
His undisputed clash with Fury was set to be Joshua’s most significant challenge to date, but it collapsed, and the ‘Gypsy King’ has revealed he was “never optimistic” that the fight would take place.
But the pair have both rarely agreed that YouTube stars Logan Paul and Jake Paul are an excellent addition to the boxing roster and insist that it will bring a new audience to the sport.
Chris Eubank Jr continues his road to primary World title contention against German standout Sven Elbir on October 2 at The SSE Arena, Wembley, live and exclusive on Sky Sports. Tickets available via www.AXS.com