Usyk backs Joshua to beat Fury and reveals training role

Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has predicted that Anthony Joshua will defeat Tyson Fury in their upcoming all-British showdown, and says he has been helping his former opponent devise a winning gameplan.

The Ukrainian star, who has beaten both Joshua and Fury twice during his career, has been training alongside the British fighter in recent months during spells in Spain and Ukraine.

Joshua returns to the ring on 25 July against Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, before a long‑anticipated clash with Fury later this year.

“In my opinion AJ wins against Fury,” Usyk told BBC Sport. “Fury is an unbelievable fighter and a very dangerous guy, but I look at how Anthony works and how he has changed.

“I like Fury – he is my greedy belly best friend, he’s an amazing fighter – but I want Anthony to win. He deserves it.”

Usyk, who is preparing to defend his WBC title against Rico Verhoeven on 23 May in Egypt, said he does not expect Joshua to encounter any problems against Prenga, describing the bout as “official sparring”. However, he has been advising the former two‑time world champion on how to overcome Fury.

“We speak about strategy, boxing skills and psychology,” Usyk said. “We speak about our fights, and I say, ‘Champ, come on, don’t stop.’”

Joshua’s last fight was a routine victory over YouTuber‑turned‑boxer Jake Paul in December, but he later took time away from the sport to recover mentally and physically after being a passenger in a fatal car crash that killed two of his friends.

Usyk said he could empathise, having lost friends during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine following the Russian invasion.

“I said, ‘Listen, God gave you one more chance. Take this chance and don’t stop or cry. This is life – pray every day and God will help you. Whatever you need, I will help,’” Usyk recalled.

“It’s hard, but I think my friends now are like angels. Every day I pray for these guys – this is life. I don’t know what waits for me and my team tomorrow, but I continue to work, pray and help.”