ANTHONY JOSHUA is in deep water — as Oleksandr Usyk is swimming FIVE HOURS at a time to prepare for their rematch.
AJ, 32, was sunk by the southpaw in September when a unanimous decision ended his reign as WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight world champion.
But Joshua has a Saudi Arabia rematch booked for August 20 — to be shown on Sky Sports Box Office after his new broadcasters, DAZN, quit yesterday’s auction — to get his head above water.
However, stablemate and mentor Derek Chisora — who impressed in a 2020 points loss to Usyk — bumped into the Ukrainian ace at a London spa recently and learnt of his superhuman training regime.
Chisora said: “I was just about to leave the Russian bathhouse that I go to when I am tired and hurt from training, and the owner told me to wait because he had a surprise.
“I sat down and all I heard was ‘Derek, Deeeerrrrrek’, like he kept saying during the build-up to our fight.
“I started talking and laughing with him and I told him he looked tired.
“He told me he had just finished swimming for five hours.
“I told him he was lying, he couldn’t swim for five hours.
“But his trainer told me it was true and then showed me a video of him in this huge Olympic pool just going up and down for five hours.”
Anyone outside of boxing might find it weird that 38-year-old Del Boy can laugh and joke with a man he recently went 12 gruelling rounds with.
But Chisora said: “There are no real rivalries. I don’t believe that any real fighter really hates another one.
“As soon as the fight is over we all just become mates.
“Even if you have knocked me out, I am still going to give you a hug.”
