OLEKSANDR USYK said he urged Anthony Joshua to “ease up” after their rematch – before offering to join his camp for sparring.
Joshua was left fuming in the ring after losing to Usyk for the second time in the space of a year.
He threw two of the champion’s belts out of the ring before going on a bizarre post-fight speech, which AJ later apologised for.
It overshadowed Usyk’s heroic performance and the unbeaten Ukrainian was visibly confused by the outburst.
He tried and failed in his approach to speak with Joshua – but is still happy to help out his old rival in training.
Usyk said: “I wanted to talk to him, I said, ‘Ease up, man, let’s just calm down. When I have time I could come to see you in the UK, come to your gym and we could spar together and stuff.'”
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The pound-for-pound star is now set to fight Tyson Fury, 34, in the heavyweight division’s first ever four-belt heavyweight unification.
Meanwhile Joshua, 32, faces a rebuilding job both in and out of the ring, having lost both the rematch and his cool.
But as Usyk returned to his war-torn home for the first time in months, he publicly defended AJ and his emotional meltdown.
He said: “I don’t have any rancour towards him and I want to tell people that they shouldn’t hold it against him – he didn’t do anything bad.
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“Emotions took over him. Don’t judge him for that. Instead, he needs support and reassurance.”
Fury wants the historic undisputed decider in December but Usyk has ruled himself out until next year to rest and recover with his loved ones.
Joshua is expected to return in either December or January with his future in the sport still bright.
Usyk added: “Okay, he has lost, so what? It’s not lethal. It’s just a small respite to do some homework.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
