Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk when the first bells of their battle rang, jeering, cheers, bullets, death, and their Far away from my dreams. Saturday night in Jeddah.
It's been almost a year since Usyk pointed out Joshua in front of 67,000 bemused fans in North London. A lot has happened in both lives and times since that night at the Spurs.
Usyk is armed and taking risks, a brutal war in his beloved Ukrainian homeland. pray to survive in He is a national idol with a difference.
Joshua has spent his 11 months searching for answers, changing teams, and changing his mindset for the battles he must win.
In his five days in Jeddah, the two were reasonably nervous and ready to take the opportunity to fight the silence. Joshua has long been done with soft soundbites and ambitious quotes. Here in Jeddah, a child who has had it all and lost it finds the hunger it has lost.
Usyk is here holding the tearful blessing of his wounded comrade in his arms. He never wanted to leave the suburbs of Kyiv, which he had defended since the beginning of the Russian invasion. Has there ever been a fighter in history who carried such a burden?
Joshua is only 32,has 26 fights in which he has lost twice, he has 11 consecutive world title fights and tickets are sold out. Nearly 370,000 people watched him live on his five stadium nights. He has been a central part of his business in British boxing for his decade. But he still wants more. Defeating Usyk is what he wants and needs. It will be one of boxing's greatest redemption tales. Open dialogue has not been kind to the big guys. Most of the vast boxing republic expect him to be easily defeated in about 6 or 7 rounds.He was dismissed like a relic. The criticism was not fair.
Perhaps even Usyk and his band of cheerful smiles expect the same. There is no fear in the Ukraine national team and Usyk feels threatened in everything he does. He was petting an Eeyore stuffed animal the other day. The toy was a gift from his daughter.
Joshua knows exactly what to do and the arguments are simple. Can he get Usyk back on the ropes so he can catch and hurt him without being exposed when he does? A simple plan, but nothing is simple with Usyk. Not one thing, believe me.
Usyk has been undefeated for his 19 years and this monumental fight is only his fourth adventure as a heavyweight. But he always had a raw dimension to transition from cruiserweight to real heavyweight. He looks comfortable as a big man. Joshua wasn't able to play a true big man in the opening round. Joshua must find that big factor this time.
"Joshua has to use his size, his power, but he has to be smart," says Robert McCracken, replacing him at thecorner. This is Robert Garcia, a trainer from California who became. Joshua and McCracken had been together for over a decade, but the boxer wasn't happy with his corner in his first fight with Usyk, from a group of men working as a barely unified team. The night was ugly and confusing, with a series of mixed messages from . McCracken was cut. It was brutal and thankfully there was little dignified silence.It happens, it's boxing.
Joshua said he had beaten Usyk a year ago
(Getty Images)
last year It has been a struggle for both sides since the 12th round in September. Here one of them ends late Saturday night. Joshua will return to Britain as a true hero as the winner of the battle. Few think he has a chance of winning. prize. That's a lot of pressure for both.
And when the bell rings, it's pressure. Usyk knows Joshua has the aggressive Garcia in his corner. Joshua should not confuse putting pressure on Usik with charging at him like a headless chicken. Usyk is smarter and Joshua hits harder. This is the crux of this battle of wills, jaws and desires. Joshua can win, but he needs to be smarter than ever. That said, it makes for a memorable one.