Imagine this: Anthony Joshua, a former heavyweight champion, is considering an unusual partnership. He's thinking of training with his old rival, Oleksandr Usyk, and his team. Yes, the very same Usyk who beat Joshua twice! But here's the twist: Joshua is still undecided about this move, even after a fact-finding mission to explore Usyk's training setup.
Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight champion, has dominated this generation with his victories over Joshua and Tyson Fury. He holds all four major world championships, a feat that has Joshua curious. Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, believes this curiosity stems from Joshua's desire to evolve as a fighter.
"It's all about self-improvement and learning for Joshua," Hearn explained to Sky Sports.
Joshua hasn't fought in 2025 yet, but there's a chance he could step back into the ring in December. Matchroom is organizing three international events in Monaco, Ghana, and Saudi Arabia next month, and one of these could be Joshua's comeback fight.
The December 27 card in Riyadh, featuring Japanese pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue, might offer Joshua a low-key comeback opportunity. It would be a far cry from the high-pressure stadium events he's used to.
Hearn said, "We'll decide this week if Joshua fights this year. We need to make a call by the weekend."
He added, "It doesn't matter where it is. You won't know until fight week. That's the whole point. It would be great for Joshua, but it's also bizarre because there's no money in it. We're not using him to sell tickets. He'll just appear on the show."
Joshua's potential training partnership with Usyk's team is a controversial move. It raises questions about loyalty and strategy in the world of boxing. What do you think? Is this a smart move for Joshua, or is it a step too far? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
