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Anthony Joshua has finally revealed which mandatory challenger he wants to face next by stating that he wants Oleksandr Usyk for his April bout. Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) is Joshua’s WBO mandatory challenger, whereas Kubrat Pulev is his IBF mandatory.

The two sanctioning bodies haven’t yet decided which mandatory will go first. There’s a possibility that AJ may need to vacate one of his belts if the IBF and WBO can’t decide. If that’s the case, then Joshua will likely keep his WBO belt, and take on Usyk in April.

Joshua says he feels that 2012 Olympic gold medalist and former unified cruiserweight champion Usyk is the more accomplished fighter than Pulev. That goes without saying though, as the 38-year-old Pulev’s claim to fame is challenging former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2o14. Pulev lost that fight by a 5th round knockout, and he was never competitive.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has concerns about the potential difficulties he would have in negotiating with Pulev’s promoters at Top Rank to make a fight between them. So if Joshua vacates his IBF belt, then Pulev would face Adam Kownacki for the vacant title. That would be a toss up fight.

Usyk is Joshua’s preferred next opponent in 2020
“I do have a preference, but I don’t actually want to disrespect the other,” said Joshua when asked if he has a preference for which mandatory challenger he defends against first in 2020. “The preference I have is the better fighter on paper. Both are solid fighters, but one of them I have a preference. The reason I don’t want to say is because of the mistakes I made last year, it’s easy to overlook people.

“I put them both in my mind as killers. I’ll go with the tougher one of the two,” said Joshua in talking about mandatory challengers Usyk and Pulev. “They’re both solid fighters. Actually, Oleksandr Usyk has achieved more. He’s a gold medalist, and cruiserweight undisputed champion. He’s come up to heavyweight. He has a good solid record, so I’ll go with Usyk because of how good he is,” said Joshua in revealing WHO he wants to fight next.


In terms of money and fan interest, Joshua vs. Pulev is the bigger fight than Joshua-Pulev. It’s unlikely that Joshua cares too much about the extra money he can make in choosing Usyk. He just wants to take on the opposition that will give him the bigger test, and Usyk is clearly the guy. If this were 10 years ago, Pulev might be the pick for Joshua if he were around then. Pulev was an excellent heavyweight in his prime, but he’s old now at 38, and he’s lost a lot from his game.

Oleksandr Usyk captured gold medal in 2012 Olympics
Usyk captured a gold medal in the 2012 London Olympics, which is where Joshua won his gold medal. Like Joshua, Usyk had a couple of controversial victories in the 2012 Olympics in beating Clemente Russo and Artur Beterbiev. A lot of boxing fans believe that Beterbiev was the clear winner in his fight with Usyk. Beterbiev landed the cleaner, harder shots throughout the contest.

The Olympic judges preferred Usyk’s fencing-like fighting style, and his jabs over the jarring power shots that Beterbiev was hitting him. If this were a fight that took place in the professional ranks, Ruiz likely would have won by a lopsided decision over Usyk. He landed the far better shots in that fight.

Joshua on Ruiz’s excuses: “It’s better to take it like a man”
“Everyone is going to look for their reasons and excuses, and I had my reasons,” said Joshua to IFL TV in commenting on Ruiz’s excuse about partying too much before rematch. “There’s always a reason. We call them excuses. He wants to validate why he lost to himself, #1, and to the world. In boxing, you have to face the world [after you lose], and when you’re searching for answers, they can come with anything.

“Sometimes it’s best to just take it like a man. I fought through my losses. Sometimes you just take it on the chin, and keep moving, but he [Ruiz] did it a different way. I think people will make up their mind in the space of a year, which is true with what they feel is best for a fighter to do when they take a loss,” said Joshua.

What did Joshua want Andy Ruiz Jr. to say? Ruiz admitted that he partied, lived up, and didn’t take his training seriously for the rematch. His trainer and his father both agreed with that. Ruiz came into the fight at a 283 lbs, and that was a clear indication that he didn’t train hard enough. But if Joshua wanted Ruiz just to admit that he was beaten by the better man, then it must have been disappointing for AJ to hear the excuses from him.

Joshua wanted Ruiz to give him more credit
The reality is though, even if Ruiz did tell the boxing world what Joshua WANTED him to tell them, the fans would still see it as a case of Andy not training hard enough. Ruiz’s physical shape told the entire story, and it wouldn’t have mattered if he told the fans that he’d lost to the better man. The truth is, we don’t know if Joshua could beat an in shape Ruiz, because he didn’t face him this time. We do know that Joshua lost to Ruiz when he was in good shape last June.

Ruiz would be lying to the boxing world if he told them that he had given it his best in training camp, and that he was 100% prepared for the fight. The California native is a straight shooter, and he’s not someone that is going to bend the truth in order to help the ego of his opponent Joshua.

Source https://www.boxingnews24.com/2019/12/anthony-joshua-reveals-he-wants-oleksandr-usyk-next/

Cc lalasticlala mynd44 semid4lyfe

Mad oooh!

AJ is finally stepping up to challenges. I have no doubts he'll beat Usyk, however ot would be a bit challenging. But he has proven how much of a champion he is with the Ruiz comeback, so no worries...

I'm loving this.

Coward, go and fight Wilder or fury, stop running

If I talk now they will say I hate AJ, who is this unknown that his management went to dig up?

Now you all see why Wilder calls him a coward?

Why won't he fight fury or Wilder? Who is this unknown they are hyping up ?

Someone no one has ever heard of? Why doesn't he fight Ruiz for a third time instead ?

He is a cowardly yellow belly fact!!

eduman365:
Mad oooh!

AJ is finally stepping up to challenges. I have no doubts he'll beat Usyk, however ot would be a bit challenging. But he has proven how much of a champion he is with the Ruiz comeback, so no worries...

I'm loving this.

Seriously?

You are not serious

livebyday:
Seriously?

You are not serious

livebyday:
If I talk now they will say I hate AJ, who is this unknown that his management went to dig up?

Now you all see why Wilder calls him a coward?

Why won't he fight fury or Wilder? Who is this unknown they are hyping up ?

Someone no one has ever heard of? Why doesn't he fight Ruiz for a third time instead ?

He is a cowardly yellow belly fact!!

LoL I said it, you're one of the green horns. So many people want to be boxing spectators but know very little.

Usyk is a mandatory which means AJ has no choice but to fight him or lose one of his belts. Usyk is the undisputed cruiserweight champion, he won a gold medal in the same 2012 London Olympics where AJ won. Usyk is actually a problem for AJ but he has chosen to fight him to get used to tougher fights. This is the fight people want to see.

As for Fury and Wilder, school yourself, none of them really wants to fight AJ. AJ offered Wilder 100million, he declined, Fury has to fight Wilder again in 2020.

The winner of both matches gets to fight AJ... Wilder is the real hype job, not AJ.

eduman365:
LoL I said it, you're one of the green horns. So many people want to be boxing spectators but know very little.

Usyk is a mandatory which means AJ has no choice but to fight him or lose one of his belts. Usyk is the undisputed cruiserweight champion, he won a gold medal in the same 2012 London Olympics where AJ won. Usyk is actually a problem for AJ but he has chosen to fight him to get used to tougher fights. This is the fight people want to see.

As for Fury and Wilder, school yourself, none of them really wants to fight AJ. AJ offered Wilder 100million, he declined, Fury has to fight Wilder again in 2020.

The winner of both matches gets to fight AJ... Wilder is the real hype job, not AJ.

You do know you can. Contest the timing of a mandatory right ? Google and do your research Einstein.

Mandatory means a fight you must accept but it doesn't have to be in the next six month but just be within the boxing season which is one year he can fight this guy in June next year . He can decide to challenge Wilder or fury

Again you lied, AJ turned down the fight because Wilder asked for a bigger purse which AJ and his manager told him he can't have Wilder was offended

You don't know anything about boxing

livebyday:
You do know you can. Contest the timing of a mandatory right ? Google and do your research Einstein.

Mandatory means a fight you must accept but it doesn't have to be in the next six month but just be within the boxing season which is one year he can fight this guy in June next year . He can decide to challenge Wilder or fury

Again you lied, AJ turned down the fight because Wilder asked for a bigger purse which AJ and his manager told him he can't have Wilder was offended

You don't know anything about boxing

You are actually the one who knows absolutely nothing about boxing

[s]

Mikeangelo0433:
You are actually the one who knows absolutely nothing about boxing

[/s]
Smh

livebyday:
You do know you can. Contest the timing of a mandatory right ? Google and do your research Einstein.

Mandatory means a fight you must accept but it doesn't have to be in the next six month but just be within the boxing season which is one year he can fight this guy in June next year . He can decide to challenge Wilder or fury

Again you lied, AJ turned down the fight because Wilder asked for a bigger purse which AJ and his manager told him he can't have Wilder was offended

You don't know anything about boxing

Alaye, he has 2 mandatories for 2020 within 180 days, Usyk and Pulev, he can't escape it and he has made the obvious choice. Even Wilder and Fury won't be available till the 3rd quarter of next year. Keep doing your google research... You better go and argue about Barca & Real Madrid.

eduman365:
Alaye, he has 2 mandatories for 2020 within 180 days, Usyk and Pulev, he can't escape it and he has made the obvious choice. Even Wilder and Fury won't be available till the 3rd quarter of next year. Keep doing your google research... You better go and argue about Barca & Real Madrid.

Gbenu joko jare

I am telling you what the elders have decided

Infact AJ is going to be denounced by all OMOLUABI fro cowardice

livebyday:
Gbenu joko jare

I am telling you what the elders have decided

Infact AJ is going to be denounced by all OMOLUABI fro cowardice

Alaye... Comot here jor!

Olodo spectator...

eduman365:
Alaye... Comot here jor!

Olodo spectator...

Mo ti gbò

Merry clismas

livebyday:
You do know you can. Contest the timing of a mandatory right ? Google and do your research Einstein.

Mandatory means a fight you must accept but it doesn't have to be in the next six month but just be within the boxing season which is one year he can fight this guy in June next year . He can decide to challenge Wilder or fury

Again you lied, AJ turned down the fight because Wilder asked for a bigger purse which AJ and his manager told him he can't have Wilder was offended

You don't know anything about boxing

Stop this ignorance. It is impossible for AJ to fight either wilder or fury next year. Fury Vs wilder is already fixed for February 22 next year, while there will be a trilogy in the summer between the two again irrespective of who wins the February 22 bout. So it is outrightly impossible for AJ to fight any of the two next year.

Philistine:
Stop this ignorance. It is impossible for AJ to fight either wilder or fury next year. Fury Vs wilder is already fixed for February 22 next year, while there will be a trilogy in the summer between the two again irrespective of who wins the February 22 bout. So it is outrightly impossible for AJ to fight any of the two next year.

Bros , you do know that no be fight sha?

You do know that there is no prize for any comment here?

Merry klismass oh

livebyday:
Bros , you do know that no be fight sha?

You do know that there is no prize for any comment here?

Merry klismass oh

I am not fighting you, just trying to educate you on issues on ground. Since u were claiming that Joshua is a coward for not fighting the duo. Next year's bouts are already slated and it is impossible for AJ to meet any of the two next year. Gracias!

Philistine:
I am not fighting you, just trying to educate you on issues on ground. Since u were claiming that Joshua is a coward for not fighting the duo. Next year's bouts are already slated and it is impossible for AJ to meet any of the two next year. Gracias!

Joshua is a coward and all you typed is very wrong

livebyday:
Joshua is a coward and all you typed is very wrong

How is it wrong? Nigerians like arguing blindly. Instead of educating yourself, you just come online to expose your ignorance. Once Again, Wilder Vs fury bout is twice next year, so there is no possibility of a AJ Vs wilder match or AJ Vs Fury.

Philistine:
How is it wrong? Nigerians like arguing blindly. Instead of educating yourself, you just come online to expose your ignorance. Once Again, Wilder Vs fury bout is twice next year, so there is no possibility of a AJ Vs wilder match or AJ Vs Fury.

Ogbeni don't talk anyhow ! I am not your mate !

If in your place they don't respect elders then please learn some manners

I do not need any discussion from you

Which ignorance? I will not engage you further

Mikeangelo0433:
You are actually the one who knows absolutely nothing about boxing

I tried schooling the guy, he no dey gree...

Philistine:
How is it wrong? Nigerians like arguing blindly. Instead of educating yourself, you just come online to expose your ignorance. Once Again, Wilder Vs fury bout is twice next year, so there is no possibility of a AJ Vs wilder match or AJ Vs Fury.

LoL. Let's take it easy on him jare. He has appeased the gods.

eduman365:
LoL. Let's take it easy on him jare. He has appeased the gods.

That guy is a hooligan

Omo jati jati ni

He has no manners what so ever