By Jim Calfa: Anthony Joshua must figure out a way to back Oleksandr Usyk up tonight throughout their fight for him to have a chance of winning.
As we saw in the first fight last September, Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) can’t afford to stand off because he’ll get picked apart by Usyk with his accurate punches.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn wants him to keep Usyk under constant pressure, work his body nonstop and not let him get the chance of coming forward to dictate how height will take place.
AJ needs to avenge his loss to Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) tonight at the Jeddah Superdome Stadium in Saudi Arabia for him to advance to a potential fight against Tyson Fury.
A loss here won’t be the end of the world for the 32-year-old Joshua, but it would take much of the air out of a fight against Fury.
“That’s absolutely the game plan,” said Eddie Hearn to iFL TV about Anthony Joshua knocking out Oleksandr Usyk tonight.
“Of course, he can win the fight on points, but he needs to hurt him, and he needs to hurt him early in the fight.
“He needs to put a dent in him. He needs to make things uncomfortable for Oleksandr Usyk and stop him from getting into his rhythm.
“Probably the same way as last time, and in the same way he approaches many of these fights” said Hearn when asked how Usyk wins tonight. “He may choose to be a little bit more aggressive, but we will see,” said Hearn.
“He was waiting and waiting and the next thing, the right hands are coming down the middle, ping the heads gone back. It’s like you can’t afford to stand off Oleksandr Usyk,” said Hearn to talkSPORT.
“But you’ve got a find a way to push him back. What Derek done so well was just mauling him back to the ropes and come in with a cross guard and just walk him back. Come in so recklessly that he had no other choice but to go backwards.
“AJs not really that kind of fighter, but he’s got to find a way to get Usyk to go backwards. When he can unload is when he’s on the ropes,” said Hearn.
