In 2021, Oleksandr Usyk first became the heavyweight champion, successfully taking three belts from Anthony Joshua. Since that initial encounter, AJ has challenged for titles twice more: he suffered a competitive loss to Usyk in their rematch and was brutally knocked out by Daniel Dubois.
Usyk: “Joshua Will Become Undisputed Heavyweight Champion in 2027”
Currently, Joshua is training alongside Usyk and has made his first visit to Ukraine. Oleksandr firmly believes he can help AJ reclaim his status as a world champion. In an interview with Daily Mail, Usyk stated: “I value him being here now. For me, he’s like a big brother. Not a rival. Not an opponent. But a partner and a brother. And now he has also fallen in love with Ukrainian cuisine, especially borscht.”
Oleksandr Usyk
In December, Joshua was involved in a car accident that tragically resulted in the death of two of his close friends. Usyk understands that AJ needs to recover both physically and mentally. “We communicate daily,” Usyk shared. “We train twice a day — morning and evening. I tell him I am ready to listen at any moment. I know he is a champion. Yes, he doesn’t have titles now, but that’s not important. A champion is not necessarily someone who holds titles. It is someone who lives correctly. Someone who works and doesn’t give up. It depends on how you live each day, each hour, each second. And Anthony is living exactly like that now. This way of thinking helps him move forward.”
Usyk mentioned that they will thoroughly review their two past head-to-head fights to analyze any mistakes made. He confidently declared: “I don’t think Joshua *can* become the undisputed world champion. I *know* it. With our help, he will win all the belts. In 2027, he will become undisputed. And not just undisputed. But undisputed in the heavyweight division.”