ANTHONY JOSHUA declared that he will "smash” Oleksandr Usyk during their upcoming rematch.
They fought for WBO, IBF, and WBA titles last September. Usyk's aggressive style threw AJ off his course, allowing him to win a points victory over the odds.
Oleksandr Usyk meets Anthony Joshua ahead of Saturday's fight in Jeddah
Joshua won three belts for Usyk when they fought in September
AJ vs Usyk 2, confirmed fight time, TV, and live stream information for Saturday's blockbuster
Joshua is vowing to abandon his cautious approach this time and "smash" the opponent when he enters Saturday's ring.
Joshua stated to Sky Sports, "I wanted outbox my opponent, regardless of whether it was Usyk, or anyone else, that mindset (in the first bout)".
"I wanted outbox my opponent, and I want to smash him on Saturday." This is just my mindset right now.
Joshua admitted that a lot of his early career success was due to his aggression, but he also acknowledged that his increased experience helped him become more calm.
He said, "I was an amateur for three-and-a-half years. I did a lot during that time. I wondered how?"
"It wasn’t the skill element. I was outclassed by many of my competitors on a global stage in terms of experience and skill, but it was that aggressiveness.
"That will was something you couldn't deny. As you gain more experience, you will become a better athlete.
"But, ultimately, you can’t look at the factor that got you where you are, which is, as your words suggest, aggressiveness."
Ukrainian Usyk has gained considerable weight since the last fight they fought.
Dave Coldwell believes that this is the wrong approach for him. He thinks the extra weight will make him slower.
Coldwell believes Uysk's greatest assets are his speed, mobility, and strength. However, if he bulks up, he will limit their effectiveness.
