Anthony Joshua is extremely focused on avenging his most recent defeat and reclaiming his unified heavyweight title.
More than getting even with Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua wants to rebuild his career after regaining control of the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO titles.
Looking for the sweetest joy 😁 @JDOfficial pic.twitter.com/vVvLK3mHsc
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) June 29, 2022
“Someone said to me ‘You got the chance to become a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.’ I said that it’s not really where you want to be,”Joshua acknowledged during the London press tour for the rematch against Usyk on August 20.
Joshua continued, “You want to keep it, stay there and keep it.”
Joshua faces the uncommon challenge of defending his unified heavyweight title on Saudi Arabian soil twice. Six months after Mexican heavyweight Andy Ruiz stopped Joshua in the seventh round of their historic bout at Madison Square Garden in New York City in June 2019, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist and two-time champion headed to Diriyah to overcome Ruiz.
In the rematch, Joshua overcame an out-of-shape Ruiz to successfully avenge his lone loss at the time and reclaim the WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO titles for England.
Anthony Joshua on his first fight with Usyk 🗣️:
“I swear I thought I was winning. I thought I was looking like Muhammad Ali in there.
“I didn’t get any impression I was losing. That’s why when they announced [Usyk’s] name I was kind of like, ‘Huh?'”
— BabaIjebu (@playbabaijebu) July 3, 2022
Joshua Is Prepared To Take On The Challenge
Changes were made to Joshua’s training facility, including the addition of famous cornerman Robert Garcia. Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, the goal is to return to what made him such an intimidating figure during his rise through the heavyweight ranks.
Joshua stressed, “I’m definitely desperate to get my hands back on the titles. Too much talking for me. Less talking, more action. Let me just get in there and do my job. I’m not a comedian, not someone who writes speeches.”
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