6 days ago
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Anthony Joshua has turned to Oleksandr Usyk's team as he prepares for his comeback bout with Jake Paul.
The former two-time heavyweight champion revealed the move at the Miami press conference to launch the December 19 contest, which will take place over eight professional rounds.
Joshua has not fought since his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September 2024 and has adjusted his training set-up for his return, working alongside the team behind two-time unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk, who beat him on points in 2021 and 2022.
'I was invited to train with Team Usyk,' Joshua said. 'He's one of the best in the world, and it's not all down to him.
'It's also down to the team that's around him, so I've linked up with them and got a great insight into someone who has achieved so much. It's been a great experience and it's very challenging.'
Paul, a YouTuber-turned-boxer who has transitioned into professional boxing over the past five years, will face Joshua in an eight-round bout in Miami next month.
Anthony Joshua has turned to Oleksandr Usyk 's team as he prepares for his comeback bout with Jake Paul
Joshua is working alongside the team behind two-time unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk, who beat him on points in 2021 and 2022
Paul, a YouTuber-turned-boxer who has transitioned into professional boxing over the past five years, will face Joshua in an eight-round bout in Miami
The fight has divided opinion due to Paul's limited boxing pedigree and Joshua's status as a former unified heavyweight champion.
Paul has built a 13-fight professional record largely against former UFC fighters and retired boxers, with his only heavyweight bout ending in a points win over a 58-year-old Mike Tyson last year.
Joshua dismissed the criticism surrounding the contest and insisted he was not concerned by the negative reaction.
'I don't address people that are against me,' he said. 'People say, "what do you feel about negative comments?" Why am I worried about negative comments?'
'I just focus on the people who believe in me and support me,' he added. 'I have nothing to say to those people.'
Paul, meanwhile, paid tribute to Joshua's achievements but maintained he believed he could cause an upset.
'He is one of the best heavyweights ever but I believe that fighting a small man is often harder as a heavyweight, because of the speed difference and because of the foot-speed and the angles,' Paul said.
'All that power is great and he's knocked people out, I just have to avoid that one shot for eight rounds and I believe that I can do that,' he added.
'I know this is much more challenging but I know what I'm capable of. This is going to be fun. I want him to cut me up, I want him to break my face, but guess what? He's going to have to kill me to stop me, and I'm seriously ready to die.'
