Boxing News: Danbury-Based Promoter Sees Same Result In Anthony Joshua-Oleksandr Usyk Rematch

With most still high on the successful heavyweight title defense of Tyson Fury against Deontay Wilder over the weekend, the name of Anthony Joshua has cropped up anew.

However, the 31-year-old needs to address his issues for now.

He is coming off a loss to Oleksandr Usyk last September 25 via unanimous decision. Based on the latest reports, “AJ” has exercised his right to a rematch, ESPN reported.

"Back in the game and looking for him to become a three-time world champion," promoter Eddie Hearn said on Sunday, October 10.

Not all are giving Joshua much of a chance against Usyk in the rematch. That is unless he can find a way to sharpen his craft.

This was something that Danbury-based boxing promoter AJ Galante pointed out when he appeared on the Sports For All PH podcast hosted by Vincent Juico and Brian Yalung.

“If it was me guiding his career, I don’t think I would take the rematch. I don’t think anything is gonna change. I think what they really have to do, in my opinion, is take a step back and look at his training camp and see how they can adjust. Maybe find another opponent for him, a top-level guy that he may be stylistically better against,” Galante said.

As far as Galante is concerned, Joshua needs to work on a lot of things ranging from his fighting style to his physique.

“Anthony Johnson is a good fighter but he needs to switch up on what he is doing. I think he is too bulky, I think he has too much muscle. I understand as a heavyweight you need to be strong, but he is very one-dimensional. I think he needs to move a little better, work on his defense,” Galante explained.

“You know, these fighters, it is really a mental thing. They have to get their confidence back. I definitely would not take the rematch right now for sure. Maybe down the line in the future but not right now. I think the result would be the same. Maybe like a year or two,” he added.

Galante’s comments are not far from what former British cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson gave when he spoke to iFL TV.

He was pretty impressed with“The Gypsy King’s” win over Wilder and stressed that Joshua or even Dillian Whyte will find it rough against someone he branded as the “whole package.”

“Listen, Dillian and AJ are my boys, but I’m telling you now, those boys need to understand they’re stepping up with somebody who has proven he is a fighting man and the whole package,” Nelson stated.