ANTHONY JOSHUA is now back from his defeat and has won the world title.
However, if he loses his third professional bout in a career-defining match with Oleksandr Uzyk, he will be forced to quit boxing and will not be able to return.
In Jeddah, Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua face off
AJ keeps his positive outlook.
AJ lit up the nation after he won gold at London 2012 and became the world champion after only 16 fights. He was also a true superstar with his 2017 Wembley victory over Wladimir Klitschko (another Ukrainian heavyweight).
His contribution to British boxing was immense, as he helped to rebuild an entire sport.
His management company is still a source of inspiration for many of our top pros and athletes at the British 2022 Commonwealth Games.
He personally supported amateur clubs with cash and kit donations while he was locked down.
However, in this fast-moving sport, much of the good work would be lost to Usyk in Saudi Arabia.
Tyson Fury would face Usyk in his latest dubious retirement.
Former sparring partners, and young pretenders such as Joe Joyce and Daniel Dubois, would relish the chance to feast on the carcass 32-year-old AJ’s once-glittering life.
After this fight, Sky Sports, a decade-long broadcasting powerhouse, was disowned. DAZN, a struggling streaming company, was tied to him. In an effort to rebuild his career and promote non-title fights against also-rans and has-beens, mainstream promotion would be dramatically reduced.
These are all very real possibilities. How can a father-of-one cope with this mental and physical tinderbox?
He stated, "It's pressure to sharpen my mind, certainly." It's a motivator.
"It's a tough fight, but one that I believe I can win. My heart is right and my mind is right. I would like to raise my heart rate.
"I want to believe in myself and do things in the ring.
"I know if I do these things, I will be victorious." That's where my head is at."
Even at his impervious height of AJ's heavyweight rampage the Watford star would admit to expecting a few losses in the long, winding, bumpy road.
The first was in 2019 against Andy Ruiz Jr. It was a shockKO that he avenged six years later.
AJ vs Usyk 2, confirmed fight time, TV and live streaming info for Saturday's blockbuster
The second was a long-drawn and painful unanimous decision loss in September against Usyk, a southpaw genius few believe AJ can outsmart.
His incredible learning curve has been smashed into brick walls.
He stated: "Muhammad Ali was considered the greatest of all times, but he lost.
"If you look back at the past, you can sort of see where you are going."
"I thought that I might lose one day. Because I had already considered it, it happened and I knew how I would deal with it.
"It's a delicate line between winning and losing. I understood that if I lost, I would just come back and rebound and do my best. That's how I think now.
"I refuse to be hurt or to be knocked to the ground, to be knocked out, and I refuse to be injured." I refuse to be in a negative situation within the ring.
"I declare victory already. That is just my mindset."
FOCUSED ANXIETY OR FIGHTING ANXIETY
Joshua performed his Hollywood-style ring dance 11 months ago at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It is difficult to discern if he is focused, or just fighting nerves and anxiety in Saudi Arabia. He seems to have been pulled towards the direction of the rich Saudi royals.
He stated that he felt nerves about the contest because he wanted to win it and perform well.
"So, it's understanding nerves then transitioning nerves once the ball is in focus.
If you can understand nerves, they are beneficial. Cus D'Amato, Mike Tyson's legendary trainer, spoke highly of nerves and how to use them. He also talked about confidence and fear.
"Now that I know what nerves are, I can manipulate them to my advantage."
The WBA, IBF, and WBO title challenger is tall, powerful, and has the reach, age, and power advantages.
He claimed that Usyk's unusual southpaw stance was what separated them last time.
He accepts defeats in back to back bouts against a lighter, more powerful opponent. This will be his rivalry that will define his career for the rest of his life.
AJ said, "That's just reality.
It's not possible to ignore it, but you can use it as motivation. Do not be afraid to confront it.
"Peak on the win, and all the rest, the legacy, belts, and the good stuff that goes with it, will follow.
"Simplify it. Just get in there and do your job. That should suffice.
"I don't want any extra weight on my back because I feel like I can be champion if I do this or that."
"The title belt is not the only thing that defines your victory.
"In that Ring, I don’t care if you’re the champion. It's me against you."
Usyk blocks AJ from reclaiming his belts
