ANTHONY JOSHUA only now accepts that Oleksandr Usyk's decision to outbox him was baffling.
The tactics AJ used last September to beat Usyk saw him comfortably outclassed. Usyk inherited the WBA and IBF belts.
Oleksandr Usyk beat Anthony Joshua in September
Joshua is ready for revenge, and will be heading to Saudi Arabia on August 20.
Robert Garcia, the US's most respected coach for heavyweights, has helped the star to see the error in his ways and is now back to his bullish self.
Eddie Hearn, promoter of Anthony Joshua, said that he was as confident as he'd ever seen him.
"And we are all certain he will beat Oleksandr Uzyk. Robert Garcia is a great team member."
READ MORE ABOUT BOXING
Joshua, 32, was defeated by Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019. He got too involved in a fight with Ruiz Jr. 32 and came out second.
Six months later, AJ lost his weight and boxed 12 rounds to win the rematch in the Saudi desert.
Joshua might need to make another 180 after finding himself in a similar situation.
Hearn teased that he would perform a similar performance as his 2017 thriller with Wladimir Klotschko (46).
FREE BETTING AND SIGN-UP DEALS - THE BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERINGSHe stated, "The ability exists, but it is more about the mind and belief."
"I spoke to him the other evening and I believe it was finally a puzzle for him why he fought that way.
He felt, even after he lost, that he could beat Usyk. Why fight like that when you don’t have to?
He could fight in his old style and have a better chance of defeating him. Klitschko-style, but Usyk can fight in your old style and have a better chance of beating him.
"So, for those who tell me, 'Just say AJ to stick that on him'. It's not so easy.
"But, ofcourse he needs to fight a lot harder, which he will."
Hearn will announce Joshua's rematch against Usyk next week.
He believes that AJ will return to the top of the heavyweight division if he continues to turn back the clock and rediscovers his ruthlessness.
More Information on Seconds Away
Hearn stated that "It's certainly not that I don't see him losing," but that if he does the right thing now (and it's no that he didn’t know what to fight in the first fight), then it is not that he was unsure of what to do next. He second-guessed himself quite a bit.
"He tried to adapt an approach to beat Oleksandr Uzyk, but it was ultimately a bad idea.
"Now it's like, be in the ring and win that fight."
