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ANTHONY JOSHUA comes into his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk as an underdog – both amongst his peers and the bookies. It is not a position AJ has ever been in before in his career and he has it all to do in his Saudi Arabia rematch on Saturday.
Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia ahead of his rematch with Oleksandr UsykCredit: Reuters
Oleksandr Usyk beat Anthony Joshua last SeptemberCredit: PA
Following a fairly one-sided defeat over 12 rounds in September, oddsmakers have Usyk as a 1/2 favourite to win.
It has helped shape the views of those inside the boxing business as SunSport runs down predictions from fighters.

Tyson Fury
Fury is linked with returning to fight the winner but in a blow to British fans, he is picking against AJ.
He told Gareth A Davies: after the rematch was announced: “In heavyweight boxing, it only takes one punch.
“It wasn’t a complete landslide last time, Usyk had a lot of marks on his face, he was cut up. He’s not hard to hit, Usyk, he’s right there in front of you.
“So Joshua can obviously land a big punch, but I just think that Usyk’s too cute for him. Too smart, too quick, and a southpaw.”
Prediction: Usyk
Tyson Fury picks Oleksandr Usyk to beat Anthony JoshuaCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
John Fury
Fury’s dad has gone the other way and has a funny feeling Joshua can avenge the loss.
John said on talkSPORT: “Don’t be surprised if AJ pulls it off.
“I’ve got a sneaky feeling again that AJ’s going to do it and he has this remarkable way of bouncing back doesn’t he.”
Prediction: Joshua
Tyson Fury’s father John believes Anthony Joshua can beat Oleksandr UsykCredit: Rex
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Mike Tyson
The youngest heavyweight champion of all time did not give a straight prediction as to who will win, but knows AJ is in for a tough night.
He said on Instagram Live: “It’s gonna be hard to beat him
“It’s gonna be hard to beat Usyk because he’s fast and he outpunched Joshua with his jab.
“Joshua has to learn to deal with his jab.”
Prediction: Sitting on the fence
Mike Tyson weighed in on Anthony Joshua’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk
Deontay Wilder
Fellow former world champ was a lot more outspoken when giving his verdict on the fight.
Wilder told EsNEWS: “I’m going with Usyk, man.
‘I’m going with Usyk. A lot of people are. But you know what I mean, it’s boxing at the end of the day, so the world will see.
“But my pick is Usyk.”
Prediction: Usyk
Deontay Wilder backed Oleksandr Usyk to beat Anthony Joshua again
Andy Ruiz Jr
The last time AJ was in a must-win rematch he bettered Andy Ruiz Jr over 12 rounds in Saudi – but the Mexican-American can’t split him and Usyk.
He told Fight Hub TV: “It only takes one punch to change the fight. So, it’s all up to the one that’s more hungry.
“Anthony Joshua goes down and he comes back up or he loses, and then he fights again to win.
“Usyk is a hard guy too. You know, his style. He throws combinations.”
Prediction: Sitting on the fence
Andy Ruiz Jr lost his rematch with Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Joe Joyce
Joyce is a former sparring partner of Joshua’s and lost to Usyk in the amateurs, so he knows both men well.
He told talkSPORT: “Usyk’s already beaten Joshua. So it’s the same thing again and he also has the confidence from beating him the first time.
“So, it’s down to Joshua now to step his game up and try and get back those titles. I still think Usyk’s got what it takes to bash him up again.
“But, Joshua has a punchers chance, a heavy punch, but if he can’t land those big shots then it’s Usyk again.”
Prediction: Usyk
Oleksandr Usyk beat Joe Joyce in the amateursCredit: Getty Images
Amir Khan
Khan linked up with Usyk in Dubai and watched him in action, but still the 2004 Olympic silver medalist is backing his countryman.
He told talkSPORT: “We all want AJ to win the fight obviously him being British, we want to bring them heavyweight titles back to Britain.
“I think he wins this fight, he beats Usyk, but it will be a difficult task.
“He then goes on and maybe does an undisputed clash with Tyson Fury, which will be a massive fight in the UK.”
Prediction: Joshua
Oleksandr Usyk pictured with Amir Khan in Dubai
Kell Brook
Khan was beaten by Brook in their February grudge match and it appears they are still not on the same page.
Brook said to Safe Betting Sites UK: “To be honest with you, I see Usyk beating him again.
“Unless Anthony Joshua comes out and he puts it on him from round one and uses his size and strength. 
“The only way, in my opinion, that Anthony Joshua can win is to use his strength and his power and put it on him in that way.”
Prediction: Usyk
Amir Khan was beaten by Kell Brook in their grudge matchCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
KSI
The YouTube boxing star is friends with Joshua, having both grown up in Watford, but the relationship doesn’t cloud his judgment.
KSI told DAZN: “Who do I think is going to win? I hate to say it, but I think Usyk. I’m sorry, bro, but I think Usyk is just too skillful.
“He’s had too many amateur fights, his experience is just too much, and his ability to adapt during a fight is just too good.
“Especially when he was fighting Chisora.”
KSI has backed Oleksandr Usyk to beat his friend Anthony JoshuaCredit: SHUTTERSTOC More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has spoken out for the first time since Tyson Fury confirmed his retirement. Fury has teased a comeback to challenge the winner of Saturday night’s rematch between AJ and Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.
Anthony Joshua has spoken out after Tyson Fury confirmed his retirementCredit: Reuters
Tyson Fury confirmed his retirement on his 34th birthdayCredit: Getty
But on his 34th birthday, the unbeaten WBC champion said he was walking away for good.
That is despite his promoters Bob Arum and Frank Warren hoping Fury would return to face either Joshua, 32, or Usyk, 35.
A win for AJ would regain the WBA, IBF and WBO belts while putting him back on top in the division.
But Joshua insisted he has to beat long-time rival Fury as well to be considered the No1 heavyweight in the world.
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He told Sky Sports: “Unless he’s 100 per cent retired, you’ve got to beat Fury as well.
“This isn’t about Fury, with all due respect. That’s just my view on that.
“As it stands you’re just a winner, you’re a winner at the end of the day. There’s always another challenge out there.
“Until you retire you’re always going to be challenged to prove you’re the best in the world.

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“The minute you say you’re the best is the minute you should pack up. That’s enough on that Tyson Fury situation.”
Fury first announced his retirement after knocking out Dillian Whyte, 34, at Wembley in April.
But returning to fight for the heavyweight undisputed title – the first ever in the four-belt era – remained on the cards.
For Joshua, he can only afford to focus on his rematch with Usyk, following defeat last September.
And after almost one year out, he returns ready for redemption.
Joshua said: “The time drags on. Normally you get straight back in there.
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“Inactivity isn’t good for anyone but the pros are for all the changes that I’ve made personally, training camp, training location, having to form a new team, make them work together as well which is important in a training environment and that needed time.
‘That needed time so straight after the fight, obviously I focused on recovery but I got straight to business and what you’ll see on Saturday is what we’ve been working on for the last, I would say, 10 months.”
Anthony Joshua was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk in SeptemberCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

MMA star Olena Kolesnyk is backing Oleksandr Usyk against Anthony Joshua – but faces watching the boxing hero’s rematch on catchup. Usyk, who beat Joshua last September, defends his belt against the British superstar on Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
Oleksandr Usyk beat Anthony Joshua last SeptemberCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Olena Kolesnyk is backing Oleksandr Usyk in his rematch with Anthony Joshua
On the same night in London, Kolesnyk faces Larissa Pacheco in the semi-final of this year’s Professional Fighters League.
The lightweight is one win away from the $1million winner-take-all finale fight.
Meanwhile, victory for Usyk over AJ again puts him in line for an undisputed title decider with Tyson Fury, 34.
Kolesnyk, 32, is backing her former amateur boxing team-mate all the way, but may have to record the fight before cheering him on.
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She told SunSport: “My fight is No6 or No7, so it will be close.
“Not sure if I’ll have the opportunity, but I’ll definitely watch his fight the next day.”
Usyk, 35, beat Joshua, 32, on points at Tottenham’s stadium and Kolesnyk predicts a repeat result.
She said: “I know Oleksandr Usyk personally, when I was in the women’s national boxing team, he was in the men’s national boxing team of Ukraine. 
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“I’m sure this fight will be interesting but there is no other option that Usyk winning this fight. 
“I don’t see how Anthony Joshua can beat Usyk, but in another way it’s a boxing fight and anything can happen. 
“But from my side, of course I wish the best to Oleksandr.”
Kolesnyk last year signed with the PFL, MMA’s only promotional with a league format.
Fighters have a two-bout regular season, where points are earned per method of victory.
The top four then progress to the play-offs, which is a semis and final with victors bagging the life-changing $1m (£827,000) cheque.
Last year, Kolesnyk lost twice but this season she progressed to the last four with wins over Abby Montes, 22, and Vanessa Melo, 34.
And she did so all while her country remains at war, leaving behind her loved ones.
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Kolesnyk said: “It’s hard, I won’t hide it. What I can do is inspire some people from my country not to give up. 
“It’s everything to me, it’s kept me focussed on the main goal, on the fight, so I’m really happy to be where I am now.” 
Kolesnyk faces Pacheco, 27, at the Copper Box in a rematch of the fight she lost last year.
Olena Kolesnyk pictured training in Las VegasCredit: @OlenaKolesnyk More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has been through 13 sparring partners for his rematch Oleksandr Usyk – and some were left “hitting the canvas”. Joshua rematches Usyk on Saturday in Saudi Arabia, following his defeat last September.
Anthony Joshua ahead of his rematch with Oleksandr UsykCredit: @anthonyjoshua
After the one-sided points loss, AJ left long-time coach Rob McCracken and his Sheffield training base.
He instead located himself at Loughborough with assistant trainer Angel Fernandez and hired US mastermind Robert Garcia.
A whole new style has been promised and if AJ’s apparent sparring is anything to go by, Joshua will be good to his word.
His camp manager David Ghansa told Sky Sports that they recruited 13 sparring partners in all shapes and sizes – although not everyone lasted. 
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Ghansa said: “We went for a wide range of strong guys, light guys, movers, stand and traders. We just had a variety of everything.
“So him going through the rounds, some days it was one man in, one man out, who’s surviving.
“People were hitting the canvas. The camp has been crazy. People were hitting the canvas, I’m not going to hide it.
“They came to get paid for that and it’s been happening. I’m not going to hide it.”

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Joshua had an equally ruthless approach when discussing his tactics for the rematch in Jeddah.
He said: “I wanted to outbox my opponent, whether it was Usyk or anyone else, that was the mindset.
“I wanted to outbox my opponent and on Saturday I want to smash my opponent. That’s just the mindset now.”
Oleksandr Usyk ahead of his rematch with Anthony JoshuaCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing More

JOE JOYCE’S team are pushing to make his fight with Joseph Parker for the WBC title after Tyson Fury’s latest retirement announcement. Fury initially hung up his gloves after knocking out Dillian Whyte at Wembley in April.
Joe Joyce, promoter Frank Warren and Joseph ParkerCredit: Rex
Tyson Fury could lose his WBC belt after retiringCredit: Getty
But four months later he spoke out to claim he was returning to fight Derek Chisora, 38, in an unlikely trilogy following his 2011 and 2014 wins.
Then only two days after, on his 34th birthday, Fury doubled down on his retirement and vacated his Ring Magazine belt.
He is yet to do the same with his WBC title and has been given until August 26 to inform them of his decision in writing.
But SunSport understands Joyce’s team are already pushing to make his heavyweight bout with Parker, 30, for the vacant belt.
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The pair headline in Manchester on September 24 and do so both highly ranked in the WBC.
Joyce, 36, is No2 while Parker is just a place behind him with only ex-champ Deontay Wilder, 36, ahead of the two.
But given Fury’s deadline, Joyce’s request might be knocked back or a shot at the “interim” belt could be offered.
In theory, that gives the title holder a guaranteed shot at the full title, like was the case with Whyte, 34.
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Fury’s promoters are still hoping the Gypsy King will be tempted back for a historic, first ever four-belt heavyweight unification.
But firstly, Oleksandr Usyk, 35, must rematch Anthony Joshua, 32, in Saudi Arabia on Saturday following his win in September.
Joyce is the WBO mandatory challenger for the winner, but amid hopes of a unification, he faces a wait for his shot.
Joe Joyce is ranked highly with the WBC and WBOCredit: Getty More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has the chance to avenge his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk and become a three-time heavyweight champion. But double defeat to the Ukrainian, who won last September, leaves AJ’s stock at an all-time low.

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Joshua, 32, was bettered over 12 rounds but has since changed trainers and vowed to come in with an all-new style.
Whereas Usyk, 35, appears to have bulked up in preparation for the rematch on Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
Here, SunSport runs down how the two compare and where the fight will be won and lost.
Speed
AJ is renowned for his hand speed, especially when he puts shots together in combinations.
But Usyk has the slicker feet and moves like a man much smaller in size.
Speed is a key factor for both men and could shape how the bout develops.
Anthony Joshua was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk on pointsCredit: PA
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Power
Joshua is the harder puncher on paper, but it was Usyk who did the greater damage last year.
AJ opted to try and outbox the southpaw at range but in the rematch he must throw in numbers and try to hit and hurt.
Usyk was only a punch or two away from stopping Joshua last time and if he senses the Londoner tiring, he should put the pressure on.
Anthony Joshua was almost stopped by Oleksandr UsykCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
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Experience
There isn’t too much to separate the two in experience, Joshua has had 26 fights compared to Usyk’s 19.
But the two-weight world champ had 350 amateur bouts, meanwhile AJ only started boxing aged 18.
Although he has had 11 world titles bout, compared to Usyk’s eight, and has had a rematch before in the pro ranks, whereas his rival hasn’t.
Oleksandr Usyk had 350 amateur fightsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Record
Usyk is unbeaten in his 19 bouts, stretching across two divisions having reigning as undisputed at cruiserweight.
Joshua has been in world title fights since 2015 and is the more experienced heavyweight boxer.
But Usyk’s extensive amateur career, where he faced all sizes and styles, has proven pivotal in his success as a pro.
Anthony Joshua is a two-time heavyweight championCredit: Getty
Physique
AJ is notably the bigger man, weighing 17st 2lb while Usyk came in at 15st 11lb.
But Usyk appears much heavier this time around and Amir Khan claimed he weighs TWO STONE more after they linked up in Dubai.
Joshua must use his size to better affect this fight, doubling up his jab and hammering away to both head and body.
Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk weighing inCredit: AP More

TYSON FURY has been set a deadline by the WBC to confirm his retirement or else be stripped of his championship belt. Fury first announced he was walking away from boxing in April after knocking out Dillian Whyte at Wembley.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, left, next to Tyson FuryCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
But he remains linked with a fight against either Anthony Joshua or Oleksandr Usyk, who rematch in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Fury, 34, even claimed he was coming back to face Derek Chisora, 38, in an unlikely trilogy bout, despite his prior wins in 2011 and 2014.
Although just two days later, Fury spoke out to say he was retiring for good and even vacated his Ring Magazine belt after doing so.
He is yet to do the same with his WBC title but has until August 26 to notify the governing body of his decision.
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WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told Izquierdazo: “We had a conversation with his promoter and we gave him ten days, until 26th (August), so they can send us a written confirmation of his final decision.
“With that, we can proceed to address the situation with the belt. We will wait until August 26th.
“That is our deadline to have a formal confirmation of their final decision.
“We have no rush. He has been a big hero inside the ring and out of it.”
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Sulaiman added: “If he confirms his retirement, we will have a big celebration for Tyson Fury.
“He decided to say goodbye to boxing, despite being in the peak of his career.
“He has a beautiful family, he is enjoying life, and he still has a lot to give inside the ring and out of it.”
Joshua, 32, rematches Usyk, 35, on Saturday in Saudi Arabia following his loss last September.
Both Fury’s promoters Bob Arum and Frank Warren have said their man will await the winner before returning.
And Warren recently told talkSPORT: “At the end of the day, if that’s what he wants to do, that’s his right to do it.
“You know, he was actually looking forward to fighting last week, he was actually talking about fighting but that’s how he feels at the moment.
“If that’s how he feels, that’s how it is, we’ve all got to support what he’s doing.

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“I spoke to him a few times last week and he told me he’s weighing exactly what he was weighing for his last fight against Dillian Whyte – that’s how hard he’s training.”
Ahead of AJ’s rematch with Usyk, Warren added: “Whoever wins that fight, everyone will want to see him fight Tyson.
“If Tyson wants to do it, he will. If he doesn’t, he won’t.”
Oleksander Usyk and Anthony Joshua ahead of their Saudi Arabia rematchCredit: Mark Robinson More