Anthony Joshua shook up the boxing world when he said he’d joined his old rival Oleksandr Usyk’s team earlier this year, to fine-tune his skillset during his twilight years.
Joshua rose through Team GB’s elite system under Rob McCracken, winning Olympic gold and building a heavyweight reign on discipline and fundamentals. After setbacks, he moved from Robert Garcia to Derrick James and then Ben Davison, searching for tactical evolution and a trainer who could unlock his full potential.
As GIVE ME SPORT reported last month, Joshua made an extraordinary move behind-the-scenes as he “spent time with Usyk’s team,” as he “looks set to change trainers,” according to British sports reporter Chris McKenna. Now, Usyk has explained the real reason for AJ’s move to the Usyk team’s training facility in Valencia, Spain.
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Real Reason For Anthony Joshua’s Move to Team Usyk
Usyk team manager Sergey Lapin manages the Spanish camp, and was one of the key figures to welcome Joshua to the facility. It comes at a time in which Joshua is preparing for one of the more straight-forward fights of his pro career as he takes on the internet sensation Jake Paul at the Kaseya Center in Miami on the 19th of December. That event airs on Netflix.
Speaking on the link-up between his team and Joshua, Usyk told Boxing King Media: “I’m not [his] coach. I’m a friend. I have very professional coaches, like 15, now with Anthony, [helping him] like a friend. If we can, if I can help my opponent, I help. We spoke with Anthony, we have preparation, ‘You can come into my camp, and we will do training together. Now, it’s possible.”
“We’re training together and we’re working together.”
Oleksandr Usyk’s Team is Helping Improve Anthony Joshua
Usyk continued: “We speak with Anthony, messaging, on the phone. I have his phone number. ‘Hey, champ! How are you?’ I like this guy because he’s smart, and this guy has a very big heart.”
Though Usyk is one of the more unbeatable fighters in the sport, and on the cusp of a possible fight with Deontay Wilder in 2026, the heavyweight king said it’s important to not impose his style on fighters who join his team but, rather, further develop their own unique skillsets.
“We are not helping him with my style,” he said. “My team, it’s not only one line — Usyk, Usyk, Usyk. No, we have different styles. I’m southpaw. Anthony is [orthodox], and doesn’t move like me.”
“We give him what helps Anthony grow.”
“My team does the plan, and gives me what helps me,” Usyk finished. “They give him his plan that will help him.”
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