Joshua v Usyk big fight prediction

By Boxing News - 09/25/2021 - Comments

By Gavin Howie – Anthony Joshua, for the first time in his career tonight, is fighting a former undisputed and undefeated world champion albeit at a lighter weight. A guy with over 300 amateur fights and also an Olympic gold medalist. Joshua is the favourite tonight for one reason and one reason only. He is the bigger guy.

*** Watch Joshua Usky LIVE on DAZN or Sky Sports in UK at 1 pm ET today ***

Usyk is a very tricky southpaw. One who has great mobility, footwork and is very hard to hit. Joshua last fought a southpaw when he defeated Charles Martin for his first world title. Martin was arguably the weakest world champion in history. He was given his belt by default when his opponent injured his ankle and the fight had to be stopped.

I think Joshua is like a modern-day Frank Bruno. Big guy, good on the eye, and the fans and media love him. In terms of boxing ability, his biggest strength is his size. He does not have great technical ability and does not have a great engine. Joshua is a world champion and has been a world champion for many years now, but is never in anybody’s top p4p list. Why is this? Usyk is on that list. Usyk is on that list because he is a genuine world-class operator.

Usyk has been scouting Joshua for years. He has been at ringside for many of his fights. Studying him. Analysing him. Picking out his weaknesses. Most pundits are saying that Usyk is too small and Joshua is too big. This is not the first time Usyk will fight a big heavyweight. He defeated Joe Joyce in the amateurs and in actual fact there was a bigger difference in weight between Joyce and Usyk that night, than there is between Usyk and Joshua for this fight.

When Usuk fought Chisora in his last fight at heavyweight, it was not a vintage performance. But to be fair, Chisora gives very few people an easy night’s work. Chisora weighed 18st 3lbs and Usyk weighed 15st 7lbs on that night. Usyk still won. Even Tyson Fury went 12 rounds with Chisora in their first fight. Tonight Joshua is just over 1 stone lighter than Chisora was, and Usyk is a few pounds heavier than when him and Chisora fought.

Joshua is going to be chasing Usyk round the ring. Not the other way about. Usyk will not be easy to hit and will try and counter AJ, taking him into the later rounds. Anatoly Lomachenko and Usyk will know exactly the type of fight this will turn out to be. So does AJ. Usyk will want the fight to go in deeper waters, and AJ will look for an early stoppage. My prediction is that Joshua will get tired of chasing Usyk around the ring and struggling to hit him clean. As a result, Joshua will naturally tire and I think Usyk has a great chance to get a late KO or points win.

The majority of people say Usyk cant punch. He is not known as a big KO artist. And that is perhaps true. However, when a fighter becomes tired, their punch resistance drops. You only need to look at how Joshua V Ruiz jr went a few years ago. Ruiz jr was supposed to be the lamb to the slaughter in that fight and not known as a big puncher. He humiliated Joshua and made him quit that night, which also asks the question of how Joshua’s heart is when the going gets tough.

I am looking forward to this fight as it draws closer and would like to know what everybody else thinks what way this fight will go?