Nigerian-born British boxer, Anthony Joshua has extolled his heavyweight colleague Oleksandr Usyk ahead of their forthcoming world championship battle at the Jeddah Super Dome in Saudi Arabia on August 20.
At Wembley, the Englishman Anthony Joshua was defeated by Usyk during their last match. The fight ended with Anthony Joshua losing his world title belts for the second time in his boxing career.
Anthony Joshua display an arrogant and aggressive temperament during the match build-up, however, he affirmed his respect and admiration for Usyk who stayed back to fight in his home country, Ukraine, when Russia began the brute invasion.
Usyk, the 35-year-old boxer was one amongst the Defence Battalion, he was also accountable for going out on patrol, he joined the frontline to defend his country from the Russian invasion.
The champion eventually vacated Ukraine after being advised by wounded sufferer of the invasion to leave and begin training for his heavyweight showdown in the middle east.
32-year Anthony Joshua, praised his rival’s devotion to defending his homeland, Ukraine, noting that he would have done the same to safeguard his home
‘If it was me, yes, it would definitely have an impact and I don’t know if it would be positive or negative.’
‘I don’t know how I would deal with it but I know it would be tough.’
‘I have never lived in anything like a conflict like that, so I don’t know the sort of ramifications it would have on me.’
‘I respect what he has done 100 percent. It’s his home, isn’t it — you have to defend your home.’
‘It is such a shame that civilians get the worst end of the bargain in wars, when it is a political issue. He is just trying to defend his community so I respect him.’
‘I think I would have done the same, not as a boxer or a warrior, just as a general person.’
Joshua, from Watford, has endured a very different build-up to his meeting with Usyk, first jetting off on a global trip to find a new trainer, before settling with serial winner Robert Garcia as he ditched long-standing trainer Rob McCracken.
Joshua also acknowledged the postponement of the fight, no issue from his camp as they wanted to give Usyk all the time he desired to train for his heavyweight title defense.