Former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew feels that Anthony Joshua’s September 25 clash with Oleksandr Usyk has become an even tougher proposition after the Ukrainian enlisted Anatoly Lomachenko as his trainer.
Lomachenko, coach of son and former pound-for-pound No.1 Vasiliy, is a master of strategy and technique. His addition to Usyk’s corner has bolstered the WBO No.1 contender’s chances, according to Bellew who was KOed in eight by the unbeaten Ukrainian in his final fight in November 2018.
“It’s a hard fight, I’m not gonna lie. It’s a very, very hard fight. If anything, it’s just got even harder because Usyk has now gone back with Lomachenko’s father,” Bellew told Talksport. “That makes it even harder because they will create a game plan that is gonna try and negate everything good that Anthony Joshua does.
“They’re gonna try and take everything away from him. That’s what Usyk does so well. He takes away your strengths before he looks at implementing his own strengths. And by taking away your strengths, you’re lost. The things he does with his feet – he’s exceptional. So I think it’s a really hard fight, I think it’s really dangerous.”
But ultimately Bellew believes that Joshua’s power and size will grind down the canny Usyk in the latter stages of the bout.
“I think Anthony Joshua will be down on points when he catches up with him,” said Bellew.