Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua 2

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua 2 Beforemath: Heavyweight Titans Clash

There’s nothing like a big boxing match. The spectacle, pomp and circumstance around boxing can get annoying at times but when it’s big fight like we have this weekend, it’s more than warranted. This weekend Oleksandr Usyk will defend his newly captured heavyweight titles against the man he took them from: Anthony Joshua. In a rare boxing Beforemath, it’s time to break down the bout. Let’s go!

Usyk vs. Joshua 2: Tale of the Tape

Going into the original matchup, Anthony Joshua was at home in the UK and was defending his belts against the former unified cruiserweight champion in Oleksandr Usyk. In 2019, Joshua was upset by Andy Ruiz and lost his titles. He was knocked out in the seventh round. He came back nine months later and completely shut out Ruiz.

After the Ruiz fights, Joshua went on to flatline Kubrat Pulev and took on Usyk. In that fight, Joshua struggled with Usyk’s footwork and dropped the decision in his own back yard.

The rise at heavyweight for Oleksandr Usyk has been meteoric. After unifying cruiserweight and sending Tony Bellew into retirement, Usyk has beat Chazz Witherspoon and Derek Chisora going into the Joshua fight. After beating Joshua, however, Russia invaded Ukraine where Usyk is from. He took time away from boxing to defend his country of Ukraine and eventually he decided to come back to grant Joshua his rematch.

Anthony Joshua: Be The Bully

Going into the rematch with Usyk, Anthony Joshua needs to be the bully. I don’t mean go out there and brawl, per se, but he needs to make Usyk fight for every inch of ground in every round. Anthony Joshua needs to make the night miserable for Oleksandr Usyk.

In their first fight, Joshua either showed that he has lost a step or he was foolishly trying to box with the boxer. He was outclassed by Usyk in his own back yard where everyone thought he was sure to win the decision if it went there. But it seems that long gone is the Anthony Joshua that went on the offensive to kill Wladimir Klitschko in round 11 to become the champion.

Circling back, Joshua needs to invest in tiring out Usyk going into the rematch. Usyk was faster and more fresh than Anthony Joshua most of the night. That means lean on Usyk in the clinch. Keep the Ukrainian on his back foot. And most importantly, work the body. With Usyk being a southpaw, he needs to be worried about the liver shot himself, but for Joshua the liver shot is much harder. But the lead hook to the body for Joshua will zap the gas tank of the fast and nimble Usyk and can give Joshua the edge as the fight goes on. He cannot go out there and let Usyk be the matador once again.

It is paramount for Anthony Joshua to slow down Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian is faster than he is and is a better boxer. But he’s not as strong as Joshua. And with those built in advantages, Joshua would be foolish not to rely on his strengths come Saturday night.

Oleksandr Usyk: Prove Your Name

“Prove your name” is a bit funny for Oleksandr Usyk. He’s actually already proven his name and unified cruiserweight then becoming a 3-belt champion at heavyweight. But to casuals, Joshua is the bigger name. “He had an off night,” they say. Usyk knows that’s not true. He’s out to prove it again.

Much if this fight will be Usyk willing Joshua around the ring where he wants the fight to take place. Usyk will be fast, he’ll be smooth, and most importantly, he will be stronger this fight. Joshua has been chinny in the past and has been caught and wobbled by some of the not-so-best. Usyk almost finished him in the first fight in round 12 and I’m willing to bet that he’s going to be looking to actually finish Joshua and gain some respect from one Tyson Fury for a unification bout.

One of the best things about Usyk as a heavyweight is his footwork. Anthony Joshua has good footwork, great even for a heavyweight today. It’s how he got himself in the position he is in as the (former) champion. But Usyk’s footwork eclipses that. Usyk trains with Anatoly Lomachenko, father of Vasyl Lomachenko. It’s clear to see the influence Anatoly has had on Usyk as a boxer and it’s translated well to heavyweight. Let’s take a look at some of Anatoly’s work with his son.

The following graphic is from my ongoing Vasyl Lomachenko series. Layers Part 4: Chonlantharn Piriyapinyo broke down Lomachenko’s fourth fight and goes in depth on some of the topics we’re soon to discuss here!

In the graphics we see Lomachenko, a southpaw like Usyk, (1) step in and bait Piriyanpinyo to come in and strike with him. (2) The wide step to his right baits Piriyanpinyo to throw a big shot and expose himself for a huge counter. We see (3) Lomachenko pull back with his guard up high. Then (4) he steps in and throws the jab as Piriyanpinyo is over extended on the baited right hook and then (5) launches the power right cross  that lands clean.

I look for Usyk to use this baiting to draw Joshua into what he perceives as a brawl and counter off the slip. I also am looking forward to Usyk using his footwork to pivot out on an angle being much harder to hit than in the previous fight.

Joshua will likely come out fighting more aggressive and that will play into Usyk’s hands. He’s smart enough of a boxer to play matador with the best of them and Joshua will easily kited around the ring if he does sacrifice technical skills for volume. That type of fight is where Usyk thrives.

Usyk will be in there for one reason: to get a spectacular finish to lure Tyson Fury out of “retirement.”

Like I said at the top, there’s nothing like box boxing. Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua 2 is the epitome of that. Don’t miss it this Saturday live on DAZN!

author avatar
Blaine Henry
Your friendly neighborhood fight fan. I watch way too many fights and my wife lets me know it.