Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson says Anthony Joshua needs to use some boxing fundamentals if he is to beat Oleksandr Usyk second time round.
The Brit challenges the Ukrainian on August 20 in Saudi Arabia as he bids to win back the three heavyweight titles, he lost to Usyk last year.
Joshua’s confusing performance on the night was met with criticism as he managed little to contain his opponent at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The loss on points led to the dismissal of trainer Robert McCracken with Robert Garcia brought in as the replacement to try and guide AJ back to the top.
In an episode of his Hotboxin’ podcast with guest Rosie Perez, Tyson said this about the first fight:
“Everybody has excuses when they lose, nobody has excuses that they won.”
“But when you get to this level of the game only the smartest win.”
“That’s why that guy Usyk beat the shit out of Joshua. He was smart, too fast, his jab was too fast.”
During his heyday ‘Iron’ Mike won his first 19 fights by knockout before picking up his first world title aged 20 with a two-round demolition of Trevor Berbick in 1986. That victory meant he become the youngest ever boxer to win a heavyweight title, a record that still stands.
Tyson was famous for the physical and mental pressure he put on fighters inside the ring and had many a man beaten before the first bell. He went on to suggest that pressure would be key if Joshua is to regain his titles:
“If Joshua don’t know how to put the pressure or use his jab same thing’s gonna happen.”
“He has to use his hook and his jab.”