Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Sporting ExcitementSporting Excitement

Boxing

‘I’m going to reign again’ – Anthony Joshua vows to regain his heavyweight belts from Olesksandr Usyk ahead of rematch

, ‘I’m going to reign again’ – Anthony Joshua vows to regain his heavyweight belts from Olesksandr Usyk ahead of rematch

ANTHONY JOSHUA insists he IS focused on reclaiming his heavyweight world titles from Oleksandr Usyk.

The 32-year-old Olympic 2012 golden boy suffered a punishing points loss to the Ukraine 35-year-old in September.

Anthony Joshua is eager to win back his world champion status
The Brit lost his world title belts in September’s defeat to Oleksandr Usyk

And he is in talks to accept stepaside money to let WBA, IBF and WBO champ Usyk fight bitter rival Tyson Fury for his WBC crown and iconic undisputed status.

But he claims a lucrative deal to sit out and eventually fight the winner is not on his radar.

“I’ve come up short twice, but the majority of times I have overcome many obstacles,” he told lifestyle magazine Stuff.

“Next fight I’m going to beat him (Usyk) and I’m going to take those belts from him.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

“And I’m going to reign again to become three-time heavyweight champion of the world – whether people like it or not.”

Joshua – who avenged his 2019 TKO loss to Andy Ruiz Jr – has split from long-time mentor and Team GB mastermind Rob McCracken and is set to unveil a new regime.

JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

The Watford ace visited a string of American gyms following the Tottenham loss and recently returned from a warm weather camp in Dubai where he did a session with ring legend Floyd Mayweather.

And he confirms the crippling disappointment of losing his titles for a second time is the driving force for such drastic change.

He said: “As I only fight once or twice a year, I have to stay busy and active in the gyms.

“But because I took a loss in my last fight, there’s been a lot of reconstruction happening in my team.

“So I’ve approached training with more of a mental approach, looking at ways I can improve rather than just jumping back in the deep end from a physical point of view.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

“I’m not happy about what happened previously because that’s a competitor’s mindset.

“You have to be angry at losing, it’s not acceptable. So now it’s about driving forward.

“One thing people know about me is that I bounce back and I don’t take losses. I fight the best consistently – that’s always been a part of my DNA.”

After both defeats AJ’s critics have accused the gentleman of accepting defeat too easily.

But he revealed the agony he puts himself through after taking a beating and being left out in the championship cold, hopefully temporarily.

He said: “After the loss, I had to give myself four or five days.

“I was doing a lot of recovery stuff like ice baths and cold showers, stretching and physio.

“Other people only see the fight, but in my case there’s years of training to lead up to that point.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

“So it’s not just the fight but all that physical battering that I’ve got to recover from as well.”

Advertisement
Advertisement

Latest

Premier League

Gareth Southgate Explains Palmer's Absence Gareth Southgate has shed light on why Cole Palmer didn't make an appearance in England's recent friendlies against Brazil...

Premier League

Former Football Stars Turned Coaches Cesc Fabregas has been predicted to join the ranks of successful managers like Mikel Arteta, Thierry Henry, and Patrick...

Premier League

Guardiola's Headache Manchester City is facing a massive injury crisis with seven key players at risk of missing the crucial showdown against Arsenal. Defensive...

Premier League

ARSENAL and West Ham are on the brink of securing an extra Champions League spot for English clubs in 2024-25 by potentially eliminating German...

Premier League

Sir Jim Ratcliffe making changes at Old Trafford Manchester United is gearing up for a major shake-up as Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the British billionaire...

Premier League

Man City vs Arsenal Preview Manchester City and Arsenal, two title rivals, are set to clash this Easter Sunday in a crucial Premier League...

Advertisement
Advertisement

Facebook

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement