ANTHONY JOSHUA has been urged not to ‘go through’ with his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
The Watford warrior had his three heavyweight titles ripped from his clutches by the slick southpaw last month but will go for seconds early next year.
Joshua, 31, was outfoxed and outboxed by the undefeated Uysk, so much so Frank Warren reckons he should step aside and let rival Tyson Fury have a crack at the Ukrainian.
During an appearance on Sky Sports, Warren said: “He shouldn’t be going through with it. It’s his choice.
“If he knocks it on the head, it opens the door for us to do the unification [Fury vs Usyk].”
Warren, 69, reckons Joshua could benefit from having a warm-up fight.
The Queensbury promotions chief added: “Let AJ get a warm-up fight.
“He needs a winning mentality before he goes into [a rematch with Usyk].
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“Maybe he fights the winner [of Fury vs Usyk] which is still a big fight.”
Should AJ share the ring with the crafty Olympian again, Warren believes the rematch will go the same way as their first encounter.
He said: “I think Usyk will beat him again. If there had been another 20 seconds, Usyk would have stopped AJ.
“He wobbled him early and nearly took him out. Next time around he will fancy knocking AJ over.
“The only way AJ can beat him is to do what Wilder did – to impose himself. I can’t see AJ winning that rematch.”
Two-time unified champ Joshua recently admitted to adopting the wrong game plan for Usyk.
He shouldn’t be going through with it
Frank Warren on Anthoy Joshua’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk
He said: “I’ve watched the fight, analysed my preparations and identified my mistakes.
“I’ve learnt my lesson. Don’t worry about me. My spirit is strong!”
Immediately after the fight, AJ said: “If you look at it from a negative point of view, you’re never going to have that mindset that you can make a difference because you’re down anyway.
“But if you look at it from a positive point of view, and realise, ‘Yeah, I took a loss.
“‘But that’s a lesson, that’s a blessing. I can use it as fuel to get better.
“‘And use it as fuel to right my wrongs. You can only get better from there.
“So I’m not gonna hold myself down from the mistake I made, I’m only gonna uplift myself and say, ‘Actually, you know what? That was a tough fight.
“‘But from that fight, I’m gonna go away, get my notepad out and find ways to improve.”
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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
