Panel: Should Anthony Joshua go straight into the Oleksandr Usyk rematch?

Oleksandr Usyk

Frazer Clarke
Tokyo Olympic medallist

Yes. Heโ€™s done 12 rounds with Usyk, he lost the fight, there were some close rounds where Usykโ€™s ring generalship and his brain won the rounds. Itโ€™s a fight thatโ€™s in Joshuaโ€™s hands and heโ€™s capable of winning if he gets it right. Heโ€™s got a level to go up but thereโ€™s also a level up that Usyk can go to. Itโ€™ll be a difficult fight.

Michael Conlan
London 2012 medallist

Yes I think he should and I think heโ€™s a great chance of beating him if he can use his natural advantages much better than he did in the fight. AJ is a huge man and around the fifth it looked like he found his range and used his size but lost that momentum pretty quick. If he can do that from the start, itโ€™s a different fight.

Kalle Sauerland
Top Promoter

In my opinion thereโ€™s a big gap to bridge and he should have ample time to do that. Heโ€™ll certainly have benefited from the fight in terms of learning experiences. I would try and buy as much time, even if that meant potentially Usyk fighting Fury in the meantime and letting them fight afterwards.

Darren Barker
Former IBF belt-holder

Yes, absolutely. He needs to approach the fight differently. Itโ€™s obvious heโ€™s got to get in there and have it with him. Itโ€™s got to be educated pressure but heโ€™s got to stick it on him. He canโ€™t stand off him. I donโ€™t understand the logic behind what he was trying to do.

Read this week’s Editor’s Letter on what Anthony Joshua’s next move should be here

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