ANTHONY JOSHUA has been warned he could get ‘devastatingly knocked out’ if he adopts a gung-ho approach for his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
The Watford warrior will bid to reclaim the unified heavyweight titles from his Ukrainian conquerer early next year.
AJ has vowed not to try to outbox Usyk second time around and to turn the fight into a war, something the slick southpaw’s old sparring partner Dave Allen reckons could work against him.
The White Rhino told talkSPORT: “I expect Anthony Joshua to make it a completely different match-up this time.
“I think he will try and rush Usyk, he will try and impose his physical strength and size.
“But that is not the way to beat Oleksandr, Oleksandr’s too clever.
“His power was causing problems for Anthony in the first fight and I believe if Anthony is to march on to one, he will get took out pretty devastatingly.
“I think I know how to beat Oleksandr Usyk, but is there a man alive that can do what is necessary to beat him? I’m not sure.
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“I don’t think Anthony Joshua has the attributes to do what is necessary.
“I think this time Anthony will take more risks, I think he will come in with a game plan that is aggressive.
“I think he will try and take control of the centre of the ring, push him back and use his power.
“But I think that may leave him open for Usyk’s speed and superior boxing ability.”
Allen has no doubt in his mind Joshua will be confident of exacting revenge on his fellow London 2012 Olympian but doesn’t foresee anyone other than Tyson Fury getting the better of the crafty technician.
He said: “Usyk won convincingly. He outboxed him, he out-fought him, at times he beat him in a firefight, he even out-powered him. He did everything. It was pretty one-sided to be honest…
“I know they’re both Olympic gold medallists, but in terms of boxing ability there’s light years between them.
“They approached it all wrong. I seen him walking to the ring, asking for advice on the way to the ring.
“Anthony, you’re 6ft 6ins, 18 stone, you’re heavyweight champion of the world – believe in yourself.
“Get a game plan, train and believe in that game plan, stick to it, go in the ring and impose your physical strength and size on Usyk.
“But I don’t think we’ll see that. I think Usyk’s got an answer for everything.”
He added: “I believe the only man that is capable of beating Oleksandr Usyk is Tyson Fury.
“And the only man capable of beating Tyson Fury is Oleksandr Usyk.
“So, for me, it’d be the best heavyweight fight probably since Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier.
“I think it’s that big, I think the fight would be that big.
“Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury for all the belts would be one of the biggest fights in the history of boxing.”
Joshua and Usyk are set to renew their rivalry early next year, with SunSport understanding the pair’s rematch is in the works for late March or early April.
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