Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua: Why a brand new trainer and more aggressive technique could pay off for Joshua

Joshua is aware of he desires a new method for the rematch, but can he pull it off?

Oleksandr Usyk completely shifted the heavyweight landscape almost 12 months ago with an outstanding win over Anthony Joshua to capture the WBO, IBF and WBA global titles. It was a exceptional tactical overall performance that proved Usyk as one of the elite competencies of his era as the former undisputed cruiserweight champion baffled Joshua, who's one of the remarkable heavyweights of his generation. Now, as the two prepare to rematch on Saturday night, boxing enthusiasts are left to marvel if there's any adjustment Joshua could make to end up global champion for the 1/3 time in his career.

Joshua is the bigger guy and the certainly greater effective puncher. That did not matter in the first meeting, with Usyk absolutely disrupting Joshua's timing and causing Joshua to be hesitant in letting his very own punches go. As Joshua waited to pull the trigger, Usyk was capable of work his way to the inside and land numerous hard left palms from his southpaw stance, at instances actually hurting Joshua and also causing large swelling round his right eye.

Joshua, who changed trainers from Robert McCracken to Robert Garcia ahead of the rematch, has admitted that he has an issue with going through southpaws.

"I need modifications to deal with a southpaw because to me these lefties are a nightmare," Joshua told daily Mail. "I swear that if Oleksandr wasn't a lefty i would have smoked him, one hundred%."

Of course, Usyk is a southpaw, so the concept of "if he wasn't" incorporates little importance. whether Garcia, who's an expert at game making plans for huge fights, can craft a approach to neutralize Usyk's big left palms -- and then whether Joshua can execute on that plan -- can be one among the most important keys to Joshua's possibilities of scoring the moderate upset in Saudi Arabia.

Joshua also faced a huge amount of criticism for trying to box tactically with Usyk instead of searching out the knockout. That technique allowed Usyk to apply slick defense and beat Joshua to the punch throughout the fight.

Joshua's exceptional stretches virtually got here in the middle rounds as Usyk dwindled slightly and Joshua was able to touch him more often, but the lack of strength he put behind the shots in the ones stretches never put Usyk in any risk.

coming into the rematch, Joshua has continuously talked up that he intends to head for the knockout. And Garcia is a trainer who focuses on aggression and pressure. some legends, like Evander Holyfield, have backed the concept that Joshua can not win except he can successfully practice aggression.

"it may not be as simple as being more aggressive, but if they don't try this, the possibilities are it ain't going to manifest for him," Holyfield stated in an interview with Boxing Scene. "There are two fights, there may be a bit guy's fight and a massive guy's combat and so which combat they combat will decide who wins."

nevertheless, there are a few specialists and former world champions who are suggesting that Joshua wishes to use any boom in aggression in very tactical methods or he'll run into a host of issues from a fighter of Usyk's quality.

"Usyk isn't always the sort of man that will let you do what you need to do," former international champion Carl Froch told daily Mail. "all people is announcing AJ has to apply his height and his reach. He has to push ahead etc., however by means of being extra aggressive he is at risk of a counter punch. particularly towards Usyk who has a lot talent. AJ should just be strolling into sharks. Joshua must be knowledgeable. He can not pass complete steam ahead -- bull in a china store mentality like Joe Joyce."

The question now becomes whether or not Joshua can flip the switch the alternative way. Boxing with Usyk did not work out the first time round. Will the addition of Garcia be sufficient for Joshua to efficaciously apply aggression, make use of his reach benefit and perhaps even get a bit bit grimy in the clinch?

we've got visible Joshua bounce back from a bad loss once before. After struggling an all-time stunning upset knockout loss to Andy Ruiz of their first meeting, Joshua entered the rematch more disciplined and lightly boxed his way to a extensive decision win.

Ruiz spoke to Boxing Scene about the combat among Joshua and Usyk, and whilst praising Joshua's choice to link up with Garcia and gather a few "Mexican aggression," he sees the task of making the right adjustments as likely too tall a assignment for Joshua.

"If Usyk doesn't do the same thing that I did, then he is going to win the combat," Ruiz stated. "I had all the equipment to beat Anthony Joshua, but things took place so speedy. i was here, i was over there, and that i didn't focus on what i was supposed to do. however Usyk is different. he's geared up. he is extra disciplined.