Retired British Heavyweight, David Price, gave his thoughts on the world title fight everybody’s talking about – the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua.
Speaking to Ali Drew on the latest Boxing Social Podcast, the Liverpool fighter was asked what AJ could do to get the win after being convincingly out-boxed by Usyk the first time round. Like many fans, Price says that it’s all down to a new gameplan.
“Avoid the route of trying to outbox the master boxer.”
“If he [AJ] can back him [Usyk] up to the ropes and he can only go left or right, that’s when he might have some success. So, my advice would be educated pressure with the front foot.”
“Do anything he can to get anything in his favour. Even anything that might create a bit of a cut. Anything. Because it’s going to take something different to beat him.”
Price, who won both the Commonwealth and British Heavyweight titles in his career, is no stranger to the highs and lows of boxing, including being hurt in the ring.
Following an exciting start to his professional career, stoppage losses to the likes of Tony Thompson, Christian Hammer, and Alexander Povetkin ultimately blocked his path to world honours.
Despite his discussion of a potential path to victory for AJ, he remains convinced that Usyk’s power kept the Brit in check last time and will finish the job come Saturday night.
“If AJ does employ the tactics everyone wants him to – get up close, rough him up, and be aggressive – he’s going to leave himself more open to the counterpunches.”
“My opinion was last year he felt the power of Usyk, and in boxing if you meet something head on with power it doubles the impact. That may be why Joshua was a little bit more apprehensive in that fight – because he got caught early.”
“I’m thinking Usyk’s going to stop him late this time, because he nearly did in the first fight.”