Usyk talks about his friendship with Joshua

Oleksandr Usyk has shared how his friendship with Anthony Joshua is growing. He revealed they train together as he prepares to support Joshua in his upcoming fight with Tyson Fury, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

Usyk, who has beaten Joshua in both their previous fights, said their bond has gotten stronger since they started working together. He even offered to include Joshua in his training camp.

“AJ is a very kind guy; he supports me every time. I told him, ‘Brother, if you need my help, I can help.’

“He came to train with me for two weeks. We trained hard together, sparring, drills, work with a partner, punch and defence. The swimming pool sessions helped him a lot too,” Usyk said.

The former undisputed heavyweight champion mentioned that both of them benefit from this arrangement. He insisted that their training sessions have improved Joshua’s skills. He jokingly talked about how they raced during the swimming sessions.

“It is not finished for who wins; it helps each other. AJ is very smart and hungry for work; he wants to learn more. It is discipline. If you do not work, it is a problem,” he added.

Usyk's two wins over Joshua ended Joshua's reign as heavyweight world champion four years ago. But now, the 39-year-old has become a mentor to his former rival, comparing their friendship to Rocky and Apollo Creed from the Rocky movies.

He has described Joshua as respectful, humble, and hardworking. He also praised him for showing dignity in defeat.

The Ukrainian boxer, who gave up his IBF, WBA, and WBC titles in June, is now focused on fighting Deontay Wilder. He says this will be the last fight of his career and calls Wilder a dangerous opponent, despite Wilder's recent struggles.

Usyk has also expressed confidence in Joshua’s ability to beat Fury when they finally meet. He predicts that Joshua will win by knockout in six rounds, saying, “AJ knocks him out in six rounds, right hand.”