In a remarkable show of sportsmanship and belief, Oleksandr Usyk has expressed his conviction that Anthony Joshua can ascend to the pinnacle of the heavyweight division as the undisputed champion. Usyk, who dethroned Joshua in 2021 to unify the heavyweight titles and successfully defended his belts in a rematch the following year, achieved undisputed status himself by defeating Tyson Fury in 2024.
Now, the Ukrainian maestro and Joshua find themselves training side by side, with Usyk offering a vote of confidence to his former rival. Despite Joshua’s recent setback—a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois that dashed his hopes of becoming a three-time heavyweight champion—Usyk remains steadfast in his belief that Joshua can still achieve greatness.
“I know he can become the undisputed champion,” Usyk, 39, asserted. “Yes, it’s possible. AJ, it’s possible. You can become the undisputed champion in 2027. Many times, I heard, ‘Hey, Usyk, you’re small; for you, it’s not possible.’ I said, ‘We’ll see.'”
Usyk’s journey to the top has been nothing short of inspirational. After becoming the undisputed champion for the second time, he relinquished his WBO title, paving the way for Fabio Wardley to be elevated from interim to full champion. Wardley is set to defend his title against Dubois on May 9.
Meanwhile, Usyk is preparing to defend his WBC crown against former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven on May 23 in Egypt. The Ukrainian has also expressed interest in facing the winner of the Wardley vs. Dubois bout and has hinted at a potential third showdown with Tyson Fury. However, in a recent twist, Usyk has suggested that he might opt for a bout with WBC interim titlist Agit Kabayel instead.
“Maybe I’ll fight Kabayel,” Usyk said. “Maybe we’ll change from Tyson to Kabayel. This is the plan, but I don’t know the plan from God.”
Joshua, who has been training with Usyk’s team in Spain, appears to have recovered from the injuries sustained in a tragic car crash in Nigeria last December, which claimed the lives of two of his close friends. The crash occurred just 10 days after Joshua’s victory over Jake Paul in Miami.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has revealed that the former champion could return to the ring in July for a warm-up bout before potentially facing Tyson Fury in a highly anticipated clash. With Usyk’s unwavering support and Joshua’s determination, the heavyweight division is poised for an exciting chapter in its storied history.
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