Comments Thread For: Photos: Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk - Ready For War

[Monty Fisto]

Both look in excellent shape. If Usyk is any less mobile than normal, it will be his age not the additional weight, as he looks trim and athletic still.

[Dean_Razorback]

is it me or this fight isn't getting the hype it should? this is probably the best fight of the year so far

[Brittney1229]

is it me or this fight isn't getting the hype it should? this is probably the best fight of the year so far

I really hope you are right because I think it will be a track meet or chess match. He would be crazy to stand in front of AJ

[Michael1437]

I am super pumped about this fight, good luck to both guys, although there isn't a lot of media attention for this fight that I've seen, I bet in the UK media is going crazy.

[zod66]

Don't forget who bring us this fight boooooooomb squuuuaaaaaaaaaad, better fight with 34 years and lose or wait 2023 24

[Satir]

looks like Usyk has a bigger frame with shorter legs and smaller head

[mathed]

joshua-usyk%20(5)_1632496901.jpg
Usyk has that serial killer look and AJ thinking he just made a new friend. The size difference isn't as wide as I thought it would be, AJ should be careful.

[roscoe]

I get the feeling Usyk has been playing a very crafty game of strategic deception in the lead-up to this fight. I think this has included what he has shown and what he has concealed in his recent two fights. For what purpose ? To mislead the AJ team into preparing for a Usyk which will not be the one showing up for the AJ fight so Usyk will gain the advantage of the element of surprise.

Four pieces of evidence which I believe support that strategic deception is going on are 1: In both his recent debut fights at heavyweight Usyk threw punches at only about half his usual output rate - in other words he was holding back. 2: Usyk did not put on additional muscle for the two debut fights, but for the AJ fight he has put on a lot of additional muscle and it's concentrated around his shoulders and chest - muscle that would help him hit much harder. 3. Usyk's weird colourful clothing he wore to his first publicity event for the AJ fight distracted and obscured that he had added a lot of muscle in the chest and shoulder area. 4. Usyk's unusual show of warmth and friendliness at the weigh-in to which AJ responded with mirror image warmth and friendliness. I believe Usyk was hiding his real feelings which however will be revealed when the physical fighting starts.

I suppose Usyk's thinking is he can't get a decision win in the home town of the Champion so he will be going for the knock out. I expect the pattern of deception to continue up to the moment the fight commences and then into it. For this reason I expect the first knock out attempt will come at an unexpected moment which Usyk will carefully and imaginatively set up. I expect it to be a sudden ferocious multi-blow attack coming out of the blue.

Usyk has waged a brilliant game of Psychological Warfare so far and I expect it to continue after the Physical Warfare commences. Usyk is the sort of person who thinks ahead, and he seems to me to be a very hungry fighter and more than anything he wants to win the Championship and all the financial and other life-changing benefits that come with it for him and his family. He is as single-minded and focused on his goal as any contender I have ever seen. In fact it appears he's totally obsessed with achieving his goal. So far he has waged his war for the Crown beautifully. Will he be able to cap it off with a stunning upset victory in the ring ? We shall see. AJ will fight his hardest to beat down this challenger. I'm expecting a fight of epic intensity and drama.

[mawoodhouse]

Lol look how tiny Usyk looks compared to Joshua! Joshua blows him away in 6-7!

[Someone88]

WOW! This is a great fight! Both Joshua and Usyk are class acts. May the best man win, I can't wait!