By Shaun Phillips-
Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua are set to finally face each other around June, after the Ukranian said he would cross the border from Ukraine to Poland, and begin training camp for the heavyweight title rematch this summer.
There had been doubts over the heavyweight title rematch between Joshua and Usyk, after the unified world heavyweight champion joined a territorial defense battalion in Kiev last month, following the invasion of Russia by Ukraine. Promoter Eddie Hearn had teased an interim fight between Joshua and either Wilder or Joe Joyce, but no solid arrangement was made in making the fight after the former undisputed world heavyweight champion expressed confidence he could knock out Joyce in one round.
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Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) comprehensively defeated Joshua via unanimous decision in September to capture the unified heavyweight championship. Joshua expectedly exercised his right to a rematch in a bid to regain the coveted titles he lost in a one sided ring schooling by the former outstanding cruiserweight world champion.
Boxing fans are united in the view that all Joshua needs to do to win the rematch is change tactics and be aggressive, but there are some who believe a warm up interim fight would have been useful for Joshua.
Boxing enthusiast and older brother of former legendary world champion, Nigel Benn, told The Eye Of Media.Com: ”I think a warm up fight would definitely have been handy for Anthony Joshua, though Joe Joyce would have been too much of a risk because of his movement. He may have beaten Joshua, the Juggernaut’s ability cannot be underestimated.
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Perhaps a fight against Otto Wallin or some other heavyweight would have given Joshua that extra psychological encouragement to come forward more with the aggressive style of his early days and return to winning ways. 
Olegsandr Usyk beat Anthony Joshua in 2019 contest Image: Getty Images
Going straight to the rematch against Usyk is not ideal for Joshua, but as he now has a new trainer, that could change his mentality in the fight. I think Joshua will win the rematch. He has no choice bit to be explosive in the rematch, but it would have been better if he were to practise that approach in a less meaningful fight”
Joshua confirmed he has a new trainer in Angel Fernandez, and will have to be a different animal to have any chance of beating Usyk. Benn is right that implementing a new forceful approach would be best exercised against a lesser but capable opponent before going in with Usyk, but Joshua ‘s team took too long to select an opponent for an interim fight.
Usyk is likely to be favourite to retain his belts and possibly end Joshua’s former glittering career, but Joshua will be desperately looking to upset the odds.
Joshua was once upset by Andy Ruiz Jr. in the seventh-round in June 2019, but regained his titles with a decisive victory in the rematch six months later. Joshua fought a tactical fight to beat Ruiz in their return fight, but will have to adopt a much different approach to get his belts back.
An announcement is yet to be made to confirm the highly anticipated rematch fight between Joshua and Usyk.
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