Anthony Joshua has named Oleksandr Usyk the ‘best fighter in the world’ ahead of his own return to the ring. The former champion is now training with Usyk’s coach, Iegor Golub, to rebuild his conditioning before fighting Kristian Prenga next week.
Following two consecutive defeats to the Ukrainian and a subsequent loss to Daniel Dubois, Joshua has fundamentally altered his preparation. His decision to work with Golub is a direct admission that he must learn from the fighter who ended his reign as unified heavyweight champion. He explained the logic behind the move, stating, “[I went to train with Usyk because] he is the best in the world, so let’s go and see what he is doing, what barriers he is breaking down and what boundaries he is pushing.” Joshua believes this proximity to the division’s best will yield results. “If I can emulate that in training, I think the results will follow in the ring.”
The primary focus of the new camp has been a move away from general fitness towards ring-specific endurance. Joshua identified this as a key weakness in his previous performances, particularly in later rounds. He drew a clear distinction between his old and new methods. “One of my main issues was conditioning and their conditioning was supreme. I’m not talking about just doing S&C [Strength and Conditioning] and circuits in the gym for the sake of it – I’m talking about boxing conditioning.”
This new philosophy prioritises fight simulation and technical repetition over pure strength work. The approach is designed to build stamina and ring intelligence concurrently, something Joshua feels he needs to rediscover. “I have been there for weeks and weeks sometimes and we don’t even hit a pad. Sparring, bag work, shadowboxing, rounds of technical, improving your focus, improving your boxing IQ – it is good, man. I’ve still got so much room to improve, I’m getting my legs back, I’m getting my mind back in the game and staying away from home helps me get that focus that I need.”
Joshua’s first test under the new regime comes next Saturday in Riyadh against Kristian Prenga. The bout is a critical step for the 36-year-old. A victory would provide validation for his change in approach, while a poor performance would raise serious questions about his ability to compete again for world titles.
