Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk went face to face for the first time since September 2021 when the two boxers met at a press conference on Tuesday.
The press conference was to confirm their rematch on August 20 in Saudi Arabia.
In the end, it turned into an extended face-off with neither man willing to break away from their first staredown since 2021.
In the first meeting, Usyk shocked the world by defeating Anthony Joshua via decision at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last year.
The defeat to Usyk was Joshua’s second in his professional career.
Joshua is adamant that he has learned so much since the first encounter.
Anthony Joshua Talks Championship Status
Speaking at the press conference, Joshua said: “God willing I’ll perform and I’ll become three-time heavyweight champion of the world.”
“The great thing is I’ve got a second chance. What got me into boxing in the first place – when I was a youngster I got in a little bit of trouble every now and again and I was blessed with a second chance and I found boxing. And I took it with both hands. So if you know me and a lot of my story, you know I’m the comeback king.
“You can put me down. But it’s difficult to keep me down.”
In response, Usyk said: “As we all know we are not in the best condition at the moment back at home [in Ukraine] but we are doing what we have to do. We are doing our job. Together with my team we are working hard to achieve our goals. I never made some very loud and bright speeches. All I did was I just worked hard in my training camp and in my gym. That’s what I’m going to do until the date of the fight and then I will enter the ring and will make you happy with my boxing.”
Joshua was able to avenge his first career defeat against Andy Ruiz back in 2019.
The Briton will be hoping to do the same again in August. Changes will be made ahead of the rematch.
Since the first meeting, Joshua has brought in a new trainer, Robert Garcia to join Angel Fernandez.
“Sometimes if you keep things simple you can achieve great things. Robert’s been great in the camp.
“Definitely the hunger’s still there.”
“Blips happen, things happen in life. We’re still on the road, still on the road to undisputed for sure.”
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Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
