ANTHONY JOSHUA must "offensive" Oleksandr Usyk if he wants to win their high-stakes rematch.
In his crucial Saudi showdown against the undefeated Ukranian, Watford's warrior will try to become a three time heavyweight champion.
Anthony Joshua will rekindle his rivalry against Oleksandr Usyk next week
Last September, the slick southpaw turned over a tentative AJ
Former sparring partner Joe Joyce encouraged Joshua to be more offensive in the rematch
In their Tottenham tussle last September, AJ was outboxed in a tentative move by the slick Southpaw. This scenario is one Brit rival Joe Joyce can see playing out again if he doesnโt step on the gas.
Sky Sports quoted him as saying: "Unless Joshua can change his style and become an offensive fighter again.
"When I was on the GB squad, I used to love going toe-to-toe with him. That used to be a lot of fun.
"But then all of the sudden he was kinda bit more [on] the back foot.
"[Against Usyk] He seemed very neat in his technique, his footwork, and everything. He was outboxing Usyk.
"Maybe Usyk was what kept him away. He seemed to be very clinical.
He could have had a little more fun inside and taken a few pot shots."
Joyce believes his sparring partner must use aspects of his aggressive style to win the desert dustup.
He said, "There was a stage in particular early when we were going toe-toe all the time."
"Then, it reached a point where he became a pro and started being a little more cautious and unwilling to engage.
"Especially after the (Andy) Ruiz Jr. rematch, he probably went into that defensive-on-the-back foot [mode].
"[He] was afraid to engage. He must have seen Ruiz's shadow putting him down.
"Even (Wladimir Klitschko) put him down, and he was in trouble throughout the whole round when they fought.
"Klitschko could have taken him out if he was more of an offensive fighter."
Joshua brought in Robert Garcia, a multiple-time world champion coach, to help him prepare an aggressive game plan for his Saudi showdown.
Joyce thinks it will take more than brute strength for AJ and Usyk to wrestle the titles back.
He stated that Uzyk knew exactly what to do in their first fight and went right to work. He's beaten him in this fight.
He knows what to do next. He is probably three to four steps ahead. It's hard one.
