Anthony Joshua to adopt ‘African and Mexican’ fighting styles against Usyk and says rival ‘needs to work harder’ to win
ANTHONY JOSHUA will adopt a hybrid of African and Mexican fighting styles for his crunch clash with Oleksandr Usyk.
AJ, 32, brought in renowned world champion coach Robert Garcia to cook up an aggressive game plan for Saturday night’s Saudi showdown after a timid display last time out.
And the Brit plans to add a bit of African flavour to Garcia’s famed Mexican-esque pressure style.
The two-time heavyweight champion told Boxing Social: “We’ll see the African style, life, that’s all that matters.
“I’m taking African style to Mexican style…both hard-working people…I respect the Mexican culture.”
Joshua is confident the addition of Garcia will lead to a tougher night at the office for Usyk, who turned him over in their Tottenham tussle last September.
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The Watford warrior said: “He needs to work harder to beat me. Listen, boxing’s a dog fight at the end of the day, it’s in me.”
“If you’re a boxer, then you have it in you. It never left anyway.”
Joshua doesn’t plan on outpointing his way to revenge against Usyk as he did in his 2019 rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr.
The London 2012 medallist said: “I will do my best and win by knockout.”
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Mexican-American Garcia and the rest of Team Joshua will push AJ to go for the kill if he rests on his laurels.
He told Sky Sports: “Can he win by decision? Yes. I know that he can also win by decision because if he controls the fight with his long punches, using a lot of jabs, even though we want him to back him up.
“But if he just uses the reach and that half distance where he’s controlling the fight, he could easily win a decision too.
“But, does he have the power, does he have the strength, has Usyk been dropped before? Yes.
“Does he like body shots? Probably not because he’s been dropped a few times with body shots.
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“Can he knock him out? I think so. And that’s what we’re going for.
“I think Anthony knows it himself, and myself and Angel Fernandez, we’re going to push him to go for the knockout.”