Boxing: Usyk Says Joshua Has What It Takes to Beat Fury

Oleksandr Usyk, the unbeaten unified heavyweight champion, has thrown his support behind Anthony Joshua to beat Tyson Fury—should the long-discussed all-British showdown finally happen. Talks between the two camps have recently resumed after years of on-again, off-again negotiations.

Usyk, who holds a perfect 24-0 record with 15 knockouts, has fought both men twice, beating Joshua on both occasions and also coming out on top against Fury. That unique experience, he believes, gives him a clear view of how a Joshua-Fury clash would unfold.

The Ukrainian has been training alongside Joshua in Spain, where the British former champion is recovering from a December car accident that tragically killed two of his close friends. Joshua escaped with minor injuries and has since returned to training.

Impressed by what he’s seen, Usyk didn’t hold back. “I believe. I look how Anthony is training. He’s a machine,” he told The Independent UK.

Usyk also urged fans to stand by Joshua, especially during tough moments. Comparing his own longtime loyalty to football club Dynamo Kyiv, he said true supporters don’t turn negative after a loss. “Sometimes my team loses, but I don’t say, ‘You’re bad.’ I say, ‘Things happen. You must work, pray.’ If we don’t help each other, we are not people. We are animals.”

On Joshua’s return to full competition, Usyk added: “I think yes, but we need a little bit of time because we know AJ has a problem with his body after the crash. But yes, he can return.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that Joshua will likely take another fight before facing Fury, and plans to keep him in Usyk’s training camp for at least his next two bouts. “When he’s there and he’s focused and he’s got that purpose, I think it’s really good for him,” Hearn said.

Meanwhile, Usyk is preparing for his own high-stakes bout—a WBC heavyweight title fight against kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven on May 23, set to take place in front of the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

As Joshua vs. Fury talks drag on, Usyk’s endorsement adds fresh weight to a matchup that fans have been waiting years to see.