ANTHONY JOSHUA says Tyson Fury's taunts might have fooled him into trying outbox Oleksandr Uzyk.
Fury loves to call AJ a "big stiff, bodybuilder" ever since the professional rivalry between Britain’s two best heavyweights turned sour.
Joshua acknowledged that Fury's mind games manipulated him into changing his style towards Usyk
The 32-year old Watford hero admitted that the slur was lodged in his brain when he attempted to outskill Tottenham's southpaw genius in September.
The 2012 Olympic gold boy was won by the 34-year old Ukrainian who, despite his height, weight, and reach disadvantages, won in North London.
Joshua revealed that Fury was the one who rang in his ears while he tried to play chess against a grandmaster.
AJ spoke to Sky from Dubai's warm-weather training camp: "Usyk was a cruiserweight fighter. He is a great fighter and a 12-round fighter.
"And I wanted him to box for 12 rounds.
"There was always the stigma that I couldn't box, that I was this big stiff body-builder.
"So I said 'cool, let me practice my boxing'.
"I tried practicing my boxing with Usyk, but it didn't work."
Joshua is positive that he will make the changes necessary to regain his WBA, IBF, and WBO titles in the spring rematch.
He stated that he won nine rounds while I won three. He said that he would win the next fight if he wins four rounds more.
"I will simplify it exactly like that.
"Then, I will get back to the road to being undisputed champ again."
Joshua lost his glittering pro career to Usyk, and Usyk's win was more devastating than his shock-stoppage loss to the flabby Mexican underdog Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019.
Pocket rocket Ruiz Jr was a late substitute for Jarrell Miller the giant drug cheat. AJ did not train specifically to face a little slugger.
He arrived in New York with a stye injury around his eye and a swelling face that suggested he wasn't fit for the job.
He was fine for the home show against Usyk but he admitted that he was defeated fair and square which left him devastated.
He said, "When I lost the first game, I didn't make any excuses."
"I had my reasons, but I accepted my loss because it was certain that I would get it back. So I put it under the rug.
"But this one hurt because I was 100%."
"I had no problems. Everything was great. "I just went in there, and lost to him on the night.
"It hurt, but it gave me the motivation I needed to get out of the situation that had mentally killed my mental health.
"I have fought my own way back, and I will be able to redeem myself."
After his defeat, AJ was given poor advice by Rob McCracken (head trainer and Team GB mastermind), Angel Fernandez and Joby Clay. AJ then went on a tour to the best gyms in America and met a few of the most respected trainers.
Eddie Hearn, the promoter of the fight, has said that he will announce his new training program in the New Year. AJ is currently in training in the Middle East with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
He also revealed the list of lifestyle and health factors that he and his team will be focusing on as they attempt to become a three-time world champion in heavyweight boxing.
He stated, "Let's not focus on the quality of things. Let's concentrate on what's necessary."
"It must come from the top down because I am not the last piece of the puzzle. I am the last performance.
"We are discussing mindset, gameplan and brain training, sparring, how we approach sparring and what it is getting us out of it, dietary requirements, recovery, what I'm listening to, motivation speeches.
"Because it is the largest stage in my career, fighting to win the heavyweight title of the world."
