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The Ukrainian champ is ready to defend his world titles subsequent month
World heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk says that he hasn’t turned his again on his house nation of Ukraine as he focuses on his title rematch with rival Anthony Joshua subsequent month.
The 2 prizefighting rivals are set to do battle for a second time in Saudi Arabia on August 20, lower than a 12 months after undefeated former cruiserweight champion Usyk moved up in weight to grab the Briton’s array of world titles with an emphatic efficiency in London final September.
Usyk’s preparations for the rematch have come after he initially took up arms in his homeland following the launch of Russia’s army marketing campaign, alongside a bunch of different Ukrainian combating expertise resembling Vasyl Lomachenko, the Klitschko brothers, and undefeated MMA champ Yaroslav Amosov.
However as the times tick ever nearer to Usyk’s high-stakes rematch with Joshua, he says he wanted persuading to place down his weapon and decide up a pair of boxing gloves.
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“On daily basis I used to be there I used to be praying and asking: ‘Please, God, don’t let anyone attempt to kill me,” Usyk stated of his time spent on patrol in Ukraine.
“Please don’t let anyone shoot me. And please don’t make me shoot some other individual.”
It was introduced in March that Usyk was leaving Ukraine, and this week he has been within the English capital, a metropolis the place he received Olympic gold in 2012 and outclassed Joshua final 12 months.
To defeat Joshua is without doubt one of the tougher duties in heavyweight boxing. However to do it twice?
Hypothesis has steered that Joshua will enter the ring in Jeddah subsequent month in a much more aggressive temper than in London final 12 months. Of their first assembly, Joshua minimize a plodding, meandering determine within the ring – a point-fighting technique which floundered towards the supremely technical Usyk.
However confronted with questions as to this perceived new technique, Usyk remained undaunted.
“Let him take into consideration that,” he stated calmly. “Let him want that.”
“I’ve watched the primary battle many instances with my complete group. We take a look at the errors I made and we are going to work on them to verify we don’t make them once more.
“I don’t take into consideration [Joshua] and I actually don’t care whether or not he has a brand new tactic or a brand new coach. I’m simply occupied with me. We’re working very onerous, we’re setting new objectives and with the Lord’s assist we might be higher.”
READ MORE: Boxer Usyk stripped of honors after ‘staining himself with Russophobia’
The Crimean-born Usyk claimed that by combating Joshua fairly than in remaining in Ukraine, he could be performing a greater service despite the fact that he “actually didn’t wish to depart our nation.”
However Usyk vowed that he would return, saying: “I wish to reside there and proper after the battle I’m going again to Ukraine.”
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