Joshua is highly motivated when he faces Usyk in Jeddah tomorrow (Photo: Nick Potts/PA)

The problem with recording things is that they are recorded well.

Last September, I backed Anthony Joshua to beat Oleksandr Usyk, but his opponent outboxed him and pummeled him en route to a unanimous decision.

I went back to that article this week to see how cracked my finger was, and it didn’t hurt as much as I feared.

Usyk was right when he said he had a chance to win, holding his own until the end and getting stronger in the later rounds, but he didn’t hang on until Joshua died at the final bell.

My bottom line was, “This is not David versus Goliath. It’s not unimaginable.

Fast-forward to today, and I still haven’t decided who I’ll go back to after I eat my second cherry. Now let’s talk. first champion. Always the first champion.

No one could have predicted what happened to Usyk 11 months after his biggest win. Glory in the ring took a backseat to Glory to Ukraine when he returned home and signed with the Kyiv Territorial Guard.

Will Usyk be inspired by his friends fighting on the Ukrainian front to win again?

Will Usyk be inspired by his friends fighting on the Ukrainian front to win again? (Image: Action Image via Reuters)

As he gathers his thoughts in a locker room in Jeddah, the messages that inspire him come not from former boxers or celebrities, but from friends fighting on the front lines.

He fights for them and his power is immense.

Nonetheless, he had an intense training camp in which Derek Chisora ​​claimed to swim five hours straight.

The great news is that Usyk weighs more than ever. Last time there was 19 pounds between them. This time, you’ll be lucky if there are many KFC deals.

Usyk did this the last time he successfully hit AJ

That was the case the last time Usyk beat AJ well (Image: Dave Shopland/Shutterstock)

His first win against Joshua was his third heavyweight fight since moving up to cruiserweight. Fighting at maximum weight is uncharted territory, but this guy has traveled the field many times before.

In fact, Usyk isn’t as complicated as Joshua this time around, and maybe AJ should look to his biggest local rival for inspiration.

Before his rematch with Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury replaced trainer Ben Davison with Sugarhill Steward, took a can of Kronk and sprayed the American everywhere.

Joshua switched from Robert McCracken to Robert Garcia, who has produced more winners than Aiden O’Brien.

The difference is that Fury has reinvented himself and Joshua may have to go back to what he knows.

Tyson Fury switched coaches from Ben Davison to Sugarhill Steward and reinvented himself

Tyson Fury changed trainers from Ben Davison to SugarHill Steward and reinvented himself (Image: Javier Garcia/Shutterstock)

I said in my first article that it was all about Joshua.

I don’t think it’s going to be that far this time. Anthony must rediscover his tiger’s eye. Cliché, I know, but it’s true. It’s definitely much more focused.

We haven’t seen a smiling, PR-friendly AJ in almost a year when Usik’s face was the last thing we saw when he went to sleep and the first thing we saw when he woke up in the morning.

Usyk and Joshua face off at weigh-in in Jeddah on Friday

Usak and Joshua face off at the weigh-in in Jeddah on Friday (Image: Getty Images)

He admitted that it was “crazy” trying to catch Usyk the first time, so he will definitely be ahead of the game. , Usyk should be able to pull it off.

That is all. I think I spoke the decision myself. Motivated to present a picture of hope and fun in his native Ukraine, Usyk has the same problems he did 11 months ago and is looking to win again.

Like last time, I’m rooting for Joshua. Hopefully, when I write the Battle Trilogy preview 11 months later, I’ll find this article and find myself wrong again.

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