ANTHONY JOSHUA has fallen to FIFTH place in the WBA rankings ahead of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua, 32, had the unified heavyweight titles ripped from his clutches in his Tottenham tussle with the slick southpaw last September.
And the World Boxing Association haven’t looked favourably on their former champion following his defeat to his fellow London 2012 gold medallist.
The Watford warrior is now behind Hughie Fury – the cousin of WBC champ Tyson – Robert Helenius and Michael Hunter in the WBA’s heavyweight pecking order.
And to make matters worse for Joshua, he’s also behind rookie Britsh heavyweight Daniel Dubois – who tops the list.
Unified heavyweight champ Usyk – who currently possesses the WBA strap – sits atop of the organisation’s rankings.
Joshua and Usyk will renew their rivalry later this year, with SunSport understanding their rematch is tentatively slated for late March or early April.
An announcement for AJ’s potentially do-or-die fight is expected in the coming weeks.
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Defeat to the former undisputed cruiserweight king has lit a fire under the golden boy of British boxing, who told iFL TV: “I’m done with f***ing losing.
“I’m done with trying to learn the sweet science.
“The referee might get thrown on the floor in the next fight because this is war.
“It’s just straight war, I’m annoyed.
“I’m boiling up even speaking about it – it’s that passion to win.”
He added: “I have one thing in my mind, that’s war, that’s murder, that’s war, let’s go out there and hurt the guy.
“Take his soul to the point where he wants to give up.
“That’s what boxing’s about, I’ve learned that.
“You hit people constantly, keep on applying a certain amount of pressure, before they know it they’ll realise you aren’t going anywhere, you’re here to stay.
“With the game plan, that’s all I have in my mind at the minute, that one track, stay on course, take this guy to places he doesn’t want to go.”
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