‘I’ll get the admiration for being a true boxing legend’
Anthony Joshua believes he will be known as a “boxing legend” if he can overcome Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch fight.
Joshua and Usyk struck a deal to fight on August 20 in the Saudi Arabian capital of Jeddah after he activated the rematch clause following his defeat to the Ukrainian at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last September.
‘I feel when I go and beat Usyk, I’ll get the credit I deserve again’
Despite being a heavyweight world champion on two occasions and beating the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker and Dillian Whyte, recent defeats to Andy Ruiz Jr and Usyk have led to doubts being casted over Joshua.
But the former Olympic champion believes that a win in the Middle East will silence those doubters and cement his status as one of boxing’s heavyweight elites.
“I feel when I go and beat Usyk, I’ll get the credit I deserve again,” he told ESPN. “And I’ll get the admiration for being a true boxing legend.
“I fought for the heavyweight championship in my 16th fight; I felt like it’s kind of overlooked. This is my 12th title fight in a row – I just feel like sometimes even though we’re selling out arenas and it’s good to be popular, I don’t really care for that stuff. I’d just want the respect in the division.”
‘I’ll make sure I get it right and become champion again’
At present Joshua is considered to be the third best heavyweight in the sport – behind Tyson Fury and Usyk only – but the 32-year-old is keen to prove he can beat the Ukrainian and go on to become the undisputed champion of the division.
“It makes me feel more comfortable knowing that I’ve been in a ring with a fighter before,” he added.
“But ultimately he might come completely different – I definitely feel my training approach changes because I knew where I wasn’t good enough areas where I was exposed.
“And look, I’ve got a third chance to become heavyweight champion of the world. I’m not just going to go in there thinking it’s going to be easy. I will address the weaknesses and then I’ll make sure I get it right and become champion again. I think it’s a task that’s definitely possible.”
Related links:
- Anthony Joshua latest athlete to fall to Saudi sportswashing machine
- Anthony Joshua tells students he would ‘crack their jaw’ after Tyson Fury taunt
- Oleksandr Usyk explains why he’s left Ukraine for Anthony Joshua rematch
