Eddie Hearn, promoter for Anthony Joshua, says the former two-time heavyweight champion will be coming for blood in the rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua lost the IBF, IBO, WBO, WBA heavyweight titles back in September, when he dropped a twelve round unanimous decision to Usyk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
There was an immediate rematch clause, which Joshua has already exercised.
The second bout is being eyed for the first quarter of 2022.
Hearn explains that Joshua has a new aggressive mentality for the fight.
“There are fine margins between success and failure and those little percentages of rest relate to that. He’s had 14 years in Sheffield now. It’s an incredible facility, but he is god there. The amateurs look up to him and his picture is everywhere,” Hearn told BetFred.
“I say we have to go rough and rugged but he’s got to have that challenger mentality in this fight and he’s got it. Everything I hear from him tells me that he wants to win badly and bash Usyk up, which I didn’t hear any of going into the first fight. He’s angry, which is good. No decision has been made yet but I do think a change of scenery would be good for him in terms of where his training camp’s based.”
Joshua, 32, has been trained for his entire career by head coach Rob McCracken.
The British superstar recently traveled over to the United States, where he spent some time with several high profile trainers.
At the end of the day, Hearn does not believe Joshua will break away from McCracken.
“Robert McCracken is more than just a trainer to AJ. He’s a friend. He’s a mentor. He’s an advisor. I think a change of scenery for AJ is sometimes good. I think it was refreshing for him when he went over to America recently,” Hearn said.
“Going from getting mobbed wherever he is in the UK to that not happening. I’m not saying people don’t know him in America, but it’s different to not being able to walk around here. You’re getting photographed everywhere and the thing with AJ is that he’s got time for everybody. That can be extra draining. Sometimes he’s taken half an hour’s worth of photographs before he’s even got into training.”
Credit: Boxingscene
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