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Anthony Joshua trains with Floyd Mayweather as he drafts in legendary boxer ahead of Usyk rematch

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ANTHONY JOSHUA teamed up with Floyd Mayweather for a Dubai training session ahead of his Oleksandr Usyk rematch.

The 32-year-old Watford icon has been training in the Middle East alongside friends and fellow fighters Lawrence Okolie and Chris Eubank Jr.

AJ’s latest training session in Dubai was overseen by boxing legend Floyd MayweatherCredit: INSTAGRAM@ANTHONYJOSHUA
Money Mayweather kept a watchful eye on AJ as he went to work on the aqua bagCredit: INSTAGRAM@ANTHONYJOSHUA
Anthony Joshua has been training in Dubai for the last few weeksCredit: Instagram / @chriseubankjr

But he spent time with the undefeated 44-year-old legend on Friday and thanked the Money Man for his help.

The former WBA, IBF and WBO champ was filmed punching a hanging aqua bag and captioned the clip: “The best to do it and always helping the next generation. Big respect champ.”

Joshua warmed up with childhood friend Sina Ghami, bobbing and weaving under a towel the personal trainer was waving to imitate punches being thrown.

And he moved on to whacking the heavy bag with straight shots, hooks and uppercuts, with Mayweather close by analysing the action.

Boxing fans were quick to comment on the pair training together, with one saying: “Floyd has a better boxing IQ than anyone in boxing and fought every style so yeah he can help AJ.”

Another said: “We love to see it.

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“Haters are gonna keep hating from the sidelines – especially when you’re doing so many things right.”

And another said: “I think it’s good that he going to different trainers/fighters and trying to improve his skills.”

One remarked: “This is interesting. Will Floyd’s advice can help Joshua to beat Usyk?

AJ has been training with a selection of coaches across America – including VIrgil Hunter, Eddy Reynoso and Ronnie Shields, since his September loss to the Ukraine ace.

And SunSport understands his time with Team GB mastermind Rob McCracken, at the English Institute for Sport in Sheffield, has come to an end after over a decade of incredible success.

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And, while getting some warm-weather work in the UAE, he has been hitting the pads with Anthony ‘Chill’ Wilson at the exclusive Binous gym.

But he had an extra special guest in Mayweather, who has been in the region promoting a number of business ventures across his social media channels.

Joshua sorted Mayweather VIP seats for his December win over Kubrat Pulev and was proud to have impressed him, beaming afterwards: “It was an honour to have him in the house.

Floyd Mayweather in attendance for Anthony Joshua’s demolition of Kubrat Pulev last yearCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

“I respect him highly for what he has achieved.

“He came to see me perform and I pulled off one of his favourite moves – the pull-counter.”

Joshua, 32, suffered a lopsided points defeat in his Tottenham tussle with Usyk in September but will have the chance to exact revenge on the slick southpaw next year.

SunSport understands the pair’s rematch is tentatively slated for late March.

Promoter Eddie Hearn claimed last month that AJ will make a public announcement regarding his team for the Usyk rematch in the New Year.

And it looks unlikely he will remain in the UK where his contribution to British sport has made him too much of a hero to be properly challenged.

The Matchroom boss said: “I feel it might be time to move on from that environment because when you’ve been there since you were 18 and you go into GB and Anthony Joshua is everywhere, he’s a god.

Anthony Joshua suffered a lopsided points defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in SeptemberCredit: Reuters

“I just feel it’s time to rough him up a little bit, not in log cabins in the middle of nowhere. But up there it’s ‘oh my God, it’s AJ!’ because they’re proud of him.

“It’s not just about who’s training him, it’s about where that’s going to take place.

“He’s talking to people and I think he will make a decision early in the new year.”

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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk

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