Joshua: "After Klitschko, I haven't fought such strong opponents as Usyk yet"

Tony Bellew warns Anthony Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) about the great abilities of Oleksandr Usyk (18-0, 13 KOs). But AJ himself also speaks with great respect about the Ukrainian's skills. Usyk won all four cruiserweight belts and scored two more wins after moving up to heavyweight. In ten days time, on September 25, Joshua will be defending IBF, WBA and WBO world titles against Usyk.

"As for the best competitors I've ever faced, I'd put Usyk in second place. Only Wladimir Klitschko was the best opponent "on paper". Technically, they are completely different boxers, but they were both Olympic champions. Usyk was very successful at cruiserweight, and so far he's been performing well at heavyweight as well. He's not only a southpaw, but he's been fighting righties all his life. And we right-handers very rarely fight left-handers. Usyk has a good, strong jaw, and he's hard to box with because he's slippery and aukward. "On paper" I haven't dealt with such a good boxer since Klitschko," Joshua said.