OLEKSANDR USYK has been warned ‘it’s only a matter of time’ before Anthony Joshua imposes his size to break down the masterful challenger.
Joshua defends his WBA, IBF and WBO titles in a mandatory defence against former undisputed cruiserweight king Usyk on Saturday.
Helping AJ prepare with slick southpaw sparring have been Australian Demsey McKean and German Shokran Parwani.
Both have given their insight to SunSport, predicting a slow burner as Joshua, 31, gradually makes his presence known, before closing the show towards the backend.
McKean, 30, said: “I think AJ gets the later round stoppage, in the later rounds. He has to break him down a bit first.
“He’s the biggest heavyweight going so I think it’s only a matter of time until he breaks him down and gets the stoppage win.”
And Parwani, 29, added: “My fight prediction is I think AJ will stop him at the end of the rounds.
“He is conditioned for 15 rounds, he’s sparred guys, six guys, different attributes, different styles, different techniques.
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“He sparred them all really great, with lots of calmness and everything he does is practising and everything he does in the camp, he’ll do in the ring.
“It’s nothing new for him and I think he will stop him and really shock everybody.
“Because everybody will be shocked how great AJ is because he’s a fantastic boxer and he has a great mindset.”
McKean was approached by Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn for sparring, with the pair previously in talks over a fight in the UK.
The Aussie was ringside for Josh Warrington’s no-contest with Mauricio Lara in Leeds and got a feel for British boxing fans’ unrivalled support.
And he fancies getting in on the action himself in the near future.
McKean said: “The UK guys are pretty much ruling the heavyweight division at the moment, so there’s plenty of good matchups over here.
“Plenty of world-ranked fighters, so it will be a case of seeing who they can get me that’s available.
“I’m a big crowd fighter, I thrive off the crowd so just being there was different.
“I was getting the tingles just sitting there watching and waiting my turn, I love it here.”
Parwani was in camp with Derek Chisora, 37, last year before the veteran was beaten by Usyk, 34, on points.
And he sparred Lawrence Okolie, 28, in March prior to the cruiserweight’s WBO title win against Pole Krzysztof Glowacki, 35.
Having become familiar behind closed doors with the best in the country, Parwani is ready to announce himself on the big stage in Britain.
He said: “Hopefully I will fight here in a Matchroom show.
“I want to fight everybody at cruiserweight and I have sparred many great cruiserweights in Russia, UK, Germany.
“Hopefully I can fight in the UK and fight the best because my goal is to one day be champion.”
