Boxing

The duo had two different fight dates cancelled previously due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but it appears set to be third time lucky as they prepare to top the bill inside the MGM Grand's bubble in Las Vegas. 

On the face of it, Ramirez has little to gain and much to lose against an opponent who, while not known for his hard-hitting power, has the durability to suggest he should prove a tough obstacle to navigate with a unification bout looming on the horizon. 

The champion from California was impressive last time out, stopping Maurice Hooker in sensational fashion to claim the WBO belt. 

However, that was over a year ago. Training camps leading up to planned bouts in February and May proved fruitless. Still, after the frustrating delays, a determined Ramirez is ready for action.

"I took a few weeks off to get reset and just enjoy my family for a few weeks before I came back to the gym," he told Stats Perform News. "Now it's been a good solid nine weeks of training camp to get ready for this fight, which I'm looking forward to."

The 28-year-old knows there is more than just titles at stake here. Win and a showdown with Scotland's Josh Taylor, who holds the IBF and WBA straps, could be next, potentially even before the end of 2020, according to promoter Bob Arum.

A move up to welterweight appears likely at some stage in the future too, yet for now the focus has to be firmly on Postol, a 36-year-old with plenty of experience and out to prove he's far from past it. The Ukrainian is unlikely to freeze on the big stage either, despite being nicknamed 'The Ice Man'.

If Ramirez plays it cool and prevails, big opportunities beckon. Defeat, though, will suddenly ruin those grand plans for career-defining nights.

RECENT HISTORY

A former Olympian - he was part of the United States' boxing team at the 2012 Games, Ramirez collected more gold when he impressively put paid to Hooker's unbeaten record in July 2019.

Hooker had home advantage in Arlington, Texas, but it did him few favours. Caught by a left hook, the local boy was stopped in the sixth when taking a flurry of shots while stuck against the ropes.

Ramirez was somewhat less convincing when recording a majority decision verdict over Jose Zepeda earlier in the year, but he still managed to retain the WBO belt he claimed with victory over Amir Ahmed Imam in 2018.

As for Postol, his only two defeats - both on points - have come against high-class opposition. Having gone the distance with Terence Crawford in 2016 before losing his WBO strap on the scorecards, he went 12 rounds with Taylor two years later.

Since that second reverse, he has recorded victories over Siar Ozgul and Mohamed Mimoune in low-key 10-rounders.

TALE OF THE TAPE

JOSE RAMIREZ

Age: 28
Height: 5ft 10ins (178cm)
Weight: 9st, 13lbs, 8oz
Reach: 72.5ins 
Professional record: 25-0 (17 KOs)
Major career titles: WBC, WBO light-welterweight

VIKTOR POSTOL

Age: 36
Height: 5ft 11ins (180cm)
Weight: 9st, 13lbs, 7oz
Reach: 73.5ins 
Professional record: 31-2 (12 KOs)
Major career titles: WBC light-welterweight

THE UNDERCARD

Chief support is provided by another clash between two light-welterweights, as the undefeated Arnold Barboza Jr - who boasts a stoppage win over Mike Alvarado on his professional record - takes on Canadian Tony Luis over 10 rounds.

The rest of the card sees prospects in action hoping to catch the eye in Vegas, including lightweight Raymond Muratalla and welterweight Elvis Rodriguez.

WHAT THE FIGHTERS HAVE TO SAY...

Ramirez on Postol: "He's a very complicated fighter so hopefully I overwhelm him and my pressure and my power, my skills, my speed, and hopefully I surprise myself too in how much I've grown as a fighter. I'm more focused on seeing that from myself rather than to be worried about what he's going to bring to the table."

Ramirez on the delays: Everything happens for a reason. I'm a man of faith so I stay optimistic. I don't lose my faith. I don't lose myself in many distractions. I stay very focused. I'm very focused on August 29.

Postol on his preparations: "This camp was tough, because I came three months before this date. But I feel good, I feel ready. Ready to fight."

Taylor (17-0, 13 KOs) added the WBA belt to his IBF crown when he beat Regis Prograis via majority decision in the thrilling October 2019 World Boxing Super Series final.

The Scottish southpaw made short work of Apinun Khongsong in his first defence, stopping the challenger with a brutal first-round body shot.

American Ramirez (26-0 17 KOs) was, like Taylor, a 2012 Olympian but boasts more experience in the professional ranks.

He consolidated the WBC title by stopping then-WBO ruler Maurice Hooker inside six rounds in July 2019.

A points win over one-time Taylor victim Viktor Postol last August kept those belts in Ramirez's possession and it means all four of the major titles in the division will be on the line when the fighters meet in under three months' time.

"I'm excited it's finalised and over the line," Taylor said. "I can't wait to get in there for the biggest fight of my career.

"Fighting for the undisputed title is something all boxers dream about."

Ramirez added he is confident he can make history for a boxer of Mexican lineage, with undisputed status similarly a target for Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez at super-middleweight this year.

"I look forward to making history by becoming the first boxer of Mexican descent to hold all four major world title belts," he said.

Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank hailed "a true 50-50 fight" that "the fans and both fighters demanded".

The 30-year-old Scotsman saw all three judges score the bout 114-112 in his favour as he took Ramirez's WBC and WBO straps to add to the WBA, IBF and The Ring belts he already held. 

Taylor (18-0) becomes the fifth man to hold an undisputed world championship in the four-belt era, joining Oleksandr Usyk, Terence Crawford, Jermain Taylor and Bernard Hopkins. 

The knockdowns came in the sixth and seventh rounds, both via Taylor's left hand.

The latter, an uppercut to the chin, nearly brought an end to the fight, but Ramirez (26-1) managed to stand in for the final few seconds of the round and make it through the 12th. 

“I have nothing but respect for Ramirez,” Taylor said. “Nothing but love and respect for that man.”

The 32-year-old Scot started the defence of his WBO and Ring Magazine super-lightweight titles at The Theater at Madison Square Garden looking like he had the measure of his Brooklyn opponent.

However Lopez, 25, soon grew in confidence and by the end of 12 gruelling rounds there was no doubt about the result.

Two judges called it 115-113 for the home fighter, with the other scoring it 117-111, confirming Lopez a two-weight world champion by unanimous decision.

Following a first loss in 20 fights, Taylor stressed his desire for a rematch but admitted that he would be “more comfortable” stepping up to the next weight division.

He told Sky Sports Boxing: “I would love to do it again and fight him again. Back home, why not?

“But the ball is in his court, he is the champion.

“I would love to do it again but most likely I will probably be moving up to welter now.

“As I have been saying for ages the move up to welter is imminent.

“I could do 140 again but I would be more comfortable at 147.”

It was Taylor’s first bout since his contentious win over Englishman Jack Catterall in February 2022 and it was another difficult night as he struggled to find solutions to the problems posed by Lopez, who was slick and powerful with his punches and evasive in defence.

The Scot refused to blame the long lay-off for his performance as he accepted defeat with humility.

He said: “The last two rounds, the championship rounds I didn’t do enough. The better man won on the night.

“I just wasn’t (at my) best, far from it. It is what it is.

“I am absolutely devastated but I will come again. He’s the champion. I would love to do it again. I know I can win.

“I know I can beat him but last night he was the better man so I have no excuses.”

Lopez said after the fight: “Josh Taylor is a tough dude. I can see why he beat so many fighters but you have to counter the counter-puncher, you have to outsmart the man and get in there and I did that. I think I did enough.”

Warrington vacated his IBF featherweight crown in January 2021 to pursue a fight with WBA titlist Xu Can but the following month a tune-up went horribly awry as he was brutally stopped by Mauricio Lara.

As Warrington licked his wounds, Wood stepped up to dethrone Xu while earlier this year the Nottingham fighter avenged his own knockout defeat to Lara by outpointing the Mexican to regain his WBA title.

In the interim, Warrington won back and lost the IBF belt but he can now become a three-time world champion at 126lbs against an opponent he believes has enjoyed success as a result of his setback.

“Credit to Leigh, he’s taken the opportunities that have been put in front of him,” Warrington (31-2-1, 8KOs) told the PA news agency.

“His drive has got him into this position but that position has come through me, technically – he got the opportunity to fight Can Xu because I lost against Lara. His fights with Lara are what’s made his stock rise, Lara became big because of me.

“I’ve been involved in all this and unfortunately for Leigh Wood, I’m going to squash it as well.”

Warrington has previously admitted he was too embarrassed to leave his house in the weeks after the Lara defeat and the Yorkshireman endured a few sleepless nights when he dropped his world title in December last year following a razor-thin majority points loss to Luis Alberto Lopez.

However, neither retirement nor a tick-over fight were options for Warrington, who still harbours ambitions of a Las Vegas bout if he is able to defeat Wood at Utilita Arena in Sheffield on Saturday.

“I didn’t want to be dropping down from world level, I didn’t get stopped, it was a close decision, there were one or two rounds in it and I thought I won,” the 32-year-old added of his loss to Lopez.

“(In the weeks after that) it was probably more on a night time in my head when I was trying to sleep – coulda, woulda, shoulda.

“But you can’t cry over spilled milk, you can only learn from it and the best way to get round it is by putting the gloves back on, getting back in the ring and doing the business.

“I only want to be in big fights. I don’t need warm-up fights or comeback fights.

“I know in my heart of hearts I can become a three-time world champion and still be at the top. You know as a man, a boxer and a person when you’re done. No one else can ever tell you, you know inside.”

Heavyweight Joshua gained revenge for the only defeat of his professional career when beating Ruiz on points a year ago, in the process reclaiming the IBF, WBA and WBO titles from his rival.

The Briton puts those belts on the line on Saturday when he takes on Kubrat Pulev, the duo finally getting to face each other in the ring.

They were scheduled to meet in 2017 only for Pulev to pull out due to injury, while a date booked for earlier this year had to be cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Hungry for further success after overcoming that unexpected setback against Ruiz, Joshua feels fully prepared for whatever situation he faces against the experienced Bulgarian.

"The pressure I went through last year was tough, but it made me stronger mentally," Joshua said at the pre-fight news conference. "I grew a thicker skin.

"I've always been tough, I've always wanted to fight the best. That's never been an issue. What have I got to lose? I've got everything to gain.

"I want to be successful in boxing - the way to do that is to take on good challengers. This is just another one I'm looking forward to competing with.

"I'm very motivated, I'm hungry. That's why I put myself forward for any opportunity."

He added: "I've been punched by the strongest people many times and I'm still here today. That never changed me, so because I took a little loss to Ruiz, I don't think that's enough to change someone like me.

"I've got a lot of character. Every fighter trains hard - it's character that separates us. I'll be keen to stand there."

After being sensationally stopped in their first fight in New York, Joshua went the distance with Ruiz in the return in Diriyah, resulting in a unanimous triumph on the scorecards.

The Olympic gold medallist is ready for the same to occur against Pulev, whose only defeat in 29 fights came against Wladimir Klitschko six years ago.

"I'm prepared for it to go to the final bell, of course," Joshua said. "I feel like I'm a 15-round fighter, not a 12-round fighter.

"If it needs to go the 12 rounds, I will be more than capable of being able to carry my stamina, to carry my boxing IQ, my concentration and my strength through to the final bell."

Usyk dominated Joshua to claim the WBA Super, WBO and IBF titles at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last September, condemning the 32-year-old to a second professional defeat.

Joshua activated his rematch clause but plans for a second bout were thrown into doubt after Usyk returned to Ukraine to defend his homeland following the Russian invasion.

However, Usyk has started preparing for the rematch in April, with the bout set to take place in Saudi Arabia, with the Ukrainian's promoter Oleksandr Krasyuk suggesting the clash will take place in August.

After a lengthy delay for confirmation of the fight, Hearn said on Saturday that the paperwork for the clash has been signed and a formal announcement will come next week.

"This fight is on and you will get an official announcement early next week," Hearn told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"[AJ] understands that in a fight of this magnitude, things do take time. It's taken time but we're in a great place. He's been training throughout, so has Oleksandr Usyk.

"AJ is more confident than I've ever seen him going into a fight. We believe he's going to win the fight."

All eyes will be on Wembley this Saturday as Joshua aims to climb back to the top of the division against IBF world heavyweight champion Dubois. 

The Briton returns to the ring six months after his second-round triumph over Francis Ngannou, extending his unbeaten run to four fights after consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk. 

Joshua has once held the title he will fight for this weekend, beating Charles Martin in two rounds back in 2016, going on to retain it for five fights while also claiming the WBO, WBA (Super) and IBO titles in the process. 

The 34-year-old's return to the top faces its sternest test under the Wembley arch, with Dubois winning the IBF title against Filip Hrgovic in June. 

While the pressure of fighting in front of a post-war record 96,000 spectators in London is weighing on the Briton's mind, there are also expectations for Joshua to deliver a victory to set up a long-awaited clash with Fury.

The pair have exchanged in a war of words over the years but have yet to settle it in the ring, with the Gypsy King set for a rematch with Usyk in December after his split-decision loss to the Ukrainian in May. 

And Jones Jr, who won 66 of his 76 professional fights, believes Joshua has to win against Dubois to give British boxing fans the fight they have been craving. 

"Well, he's hungry. He's still searching for direction. And, I think he found a good direction with the training he has now," Jones Jr told Stats Perform. 

"So, hopefully, he can come back and get back to the form of what people want to see.

"Because even though he lost to Usyk twice and Fury may lose to Usyk twice, the people in the U.K. still want to see Anthony Joshua v Tyson Fury."

When asked to pick a winner, Jones Jr placed more pressure on Joshua to prevail, adding: "He has to win that fight.

"And the only way I think he'll lose it is if he gets knocked out, which I don't think will happen.

"So for the sport of boxing and for the love of his fans, he has to win that fight. Because people still want to see who's better out of him and Tyson Fury."

Heavyweight Joshua defends his IBF, WBA and WBO titles at Wembley Arena in what will be his first outing since regaining the belts from Andy Ruiz Jr a year ago. 

The 31-year-old was due to face Pulev, who has lost just once as a pro and is the mandatory challenger with the IBF, back in June, only for that date to be shelved amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Pulev is the final hurdle to clear before a lucrative all-British fight with reigning WBC champion Tyson Fury next year, though a focused Joshua is expecting a battle against the Bulgarian. 

"What can I expect? My body is just a vessel that carries my brain, so I've trained my brain more so than my body," Joshua told Sky Sports News as he entered the bio-secure bubble set up for the bout. 

"I'm ready for war, I'm ready for a fight. I'm looking forward to it. 

"The time will come when we go to war, so I'm looking forward to that date."

With a relaxation in the COVID-19 restrictions in London, the card will see 1,000 spectators present at the venue, a welcome boost for the reigning champion. 

This will be Joshua's first outing on home soil since September 2018, when he defeated Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium.

"I like it, it will be intimate. It's nice for the fans," he said of the small crowd allowed to attend.

"It is a special occasion to watch a heavyweight championship fight among 1,000 people when normally there would be tens of thousands of people.

"There are a lucky thousand who will be there, so I hope that they enjoy it."

In front of a record-breaking, 96,000 crowd that had been further geed up by a performance from Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, it was Dubois who turned in a supersonic display on Saturday.

Joshua saw his hopes of clinching the IBF heavyweight title slide away as Dubois dominated from the off, before delivering the knockout blow in round five.

Some pundits suggested this should be the end for Joshua, though the 34-year-old insisted he is not planning on stopping any time soon.

"Credit to him and his team. We rolled the dice of success, but we came up short," he told DAZN.

"You know I'm ready to kick off in the ring, but I'm going to keep my cool, keep very professional, and give respect to my opponent.

"I'm always saying to myself I'm a fighter for life... We keep rolling the dice.

"I had a sharp opponent, a fast opponent and a lot of mistakes from my end, but that's the game."

Promoter Eddie Hearn, meanwhile, claimed Joshua would likely take up the option of a rematch.

"I'm sure he'll exercise that rematch clause, it's a given, it's a dangerous fight because he's growing in confidence all the time but he'll believe he can beat him," Hearn told DAZN.

Dubois, though, will likely want to turn his attention to facing the victor out of Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, with their rematch set to take place in December in Saudi Arabia.

Former WBO world champion Johnny Nelson had suggested Joshua should call time on his career if he loses for the fourth time, having already been defeated by Andy Ruiz Jr. and Oleksandr Usyk (twice).

And the 33-year-old confirmed he does intend to hang up his gloves if he is beaten by his American opponent at the O2 Arena in London.

"I will. I will retire if I lose. I'm not here to battle people. If people want me to retire I will retire," Joshua said to MailOnline.

"I'm not going to fight if people don't want me too. It's not even about the money. It's about the competitor in you. That's what's important."

Joshua said he would like to face Tyson Fury if the Gypsy King is unable to revive negotiations on a unification fight with Usyk, but also sounded as if he is looking forward to retirement and getting away from the pressure of elite boxing.

"It [pressure] comes with the business and it comes with the territory, I know that," he said. "I know when I am retired, I am gonna be chilling. I'm gonna be thinking f*** everyone. I am done.

"You lot put so much pressure on me so when I am done, the chains are going to be gone. I am going to be laughing and loving life."

Fury had originally wanted to face Oleksandr Usyk – who beat Joshua in Saudi Arabia in August – in a title unification bout, but the Ukrainian does not want to compete again until 2023, and Fury intends to fight before the end of the year.

That led to the Gypsy King going public with his proposal to Joshua as he pushed to set up a 'Battle of Britain' clash with the WBC heavyweight belt on the line before the end of 2022.

On Tuesday, Joshua's management team 258 announced that, along with Matchroom Boxing, the terms had been accepted, but negotiations had been postponed following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.

They tweeted: "258 and Matchroom Boxing can confirm, on behalf of Anthony Joshua, that we accepted all terms presented to us by Fury's team for a fight Dec 3rd last Friday.

"Due to the Queen's passing, it was agreed to halt all communication. We are awaiting a response."

Fury's promoter Frank Warren later replied on Twitter, writing: "Contract will be with you very soon."

Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn previously declared his fighter had accepted a proposed deal for the bout, with a 60-40 split in favour of Fury.

Fury had said his team secured provisional dates with Wembley Stadium and the Principality Stadium.

A 'Battle of Britain' clash between Joshua and Fury seemed set for December 3 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, only to for the bout to break down after negotiations collapsed.

The meeting between the two British heavyweights would have followed Joshua's rematch loss to Usyk, who successfully defended his WBA, IBF and WBO belts in August's title match in Saudi Arabia.

While Joshua suggested he will meet in the ring with Fury at some point, the former admitted he needed time off after a draining defeat to the Ukrainian.

"You saw after my last fight, it tore me apart," Joshua said in an interview with DAZN.

"I had so much riding on it, for me, the British fans, the undisputed fight, it just really tore me apart. So from a mental capacity, my close ones are telling me, 'you should rest mentally'.

"Physically, I'm down to fight. I'm a warrior, I like this game, I like competing. But on a mental aspect, I think people have really seen it means a lot.

"I was supposed to be in the ring on December 3. When you're saying, 'when are we going to see you back in the ring?' that was the date but obviously it's not happening. 

"But I've got a good team and I've got to just leave certain things to them because all that other stuff, back and forth and social media, it's quite time-consuming. But you've got to play the game as well.

"And my dance partner, the last geezer I was supposed to fight (Fury), he's a good dance partner, he handles the social media side and I think we do good business behind the scenes to be fair.  

"It will happen, we’re in the same era. Just as two competitors, two fighters. He's definitely someone that's a fighting man."

Joshua is yet to confirm his next opponent after failing to agree a deal with Fury, who settled for another all-British fight with Derek Chisora at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 3.

The 33-year-old is not currently in the title picture after losing back-to-back fights to Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021 and August 2022.

Joshua has tasted defeat in three of his past five bouts, with Andy Ruiz Jr sensationally ending his opponent's unbeaten streak of 22 fights.

But the Briton believes he is on the road back to the top, with a huge showdown against Tyson Fury again being touted should he overcome Franklin at the O2 Arena on Saturday.

"I do and I did want respect from people in the industry that I admire, ex-legends in the game and when you're not a champion any more you feel like that goes away," he said.

"That was definitely something I was yearning for – the respect from ex-champions. When I'd lost it, it was like 'f***, I've lost that invincibility', but it's all good.

“We move forward. I'm not really doing it for that purpose any more because I'm not in that position, but the desire? 

"One is definitely to become champion, which I think is possible within the next 16 months.

"I think we've got to see what happens this year with the belts. Let them be competed for and then potentially let them go up in the air and then we'll see where the belts land. 

"Then it's about just staying consistent, staying focused on improving for these next 12 to 16 months while I'm in title contention."

Next weekend's fight will be Joshua's first since 2015 that has not been contested with a world title on the line.

"There is definitely not as much nerves," he said. "That kind of pressure, that pressure cooker is off a bit. The pressure was a lot, I can't lie to you.

"But when you want something so bad, I was really pushing that undisputed narrative for so long, that road to undisputed hashtag with all of the brands we work with. 

"We pushed it, but now we're at a new stage. We can't look back. We're only looking forward and I see a bright future and that kind of keeps me in good spirits."

Joshua will return to the ring for the first time in seven months as he looks to bounce back from consecutive defeats to Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk.

Franklin – his opponent – has a 21-1 record and lost his most recent bout against former world title challenger Dillian Whyte. 

Joshua has moved to Dallas, Texas for this fight camp as he links up with renowned trainer Derrick James, with the heavyweight looking to get back to basics as he chases a winning formula. 

Writing in his column for The Evening Standard, he said: "His message has been pretty simple… to go back to basics. 

"The best athletes all do the basics well. In my last fight, I feel I maybe moved away from that a little bit.

"So, much of the in-camp training for the Jermaine Franklin fight at the O2 [Arena] on Saturday has been about stripping it down to the bare bones, getting my jab right, my defence, all the fundamentals of boxing.

"This is just the next chapter in my story but it also feels like the start of a long run, one I'm confident will also prove to be a long run of success.

"I see myself boxing for another three or four years and it feels like there are a lot of big nights ahead."

The 33-year-old's fight in London on Saturday will be his first without a world title involved since April 2016, but Joshua recognised the importance of the bout and the influence of new coach James.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, he said: "This is massive! I've put in the work, I still dream big so I'm gonna go out there and make sure I get the job done. 

"The goal is to take him out.

"Derick is up there with one of the best people I've ever spoken to about boxing. 

"I appreciate his time and the fact that he took me one, he's a well sought after coach and I'm looking forward to showing him that he hasn't wasted his time by taking on this project."

Joshua is set for a second bout in early 2022 with Usyk, who claimed the WBA, WBO and IBF titles on a unanimous points decision at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September.

The Briton has since hinted he would step out the way for WBC champion Tyson Fury, who is awaiting a decision as to whether he has to face mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte, to challenge Usyk to crown an undisputed champion.

While believing a bout between the two British boxers, Joshua and Fury, would be an entertaining meeting, Briggs would like to see a bout to become the undisputed champion first.

"The Fury-Joshua would be a good fight," Briggs, who held a world heavyweight title twice, told Stats Perform. 

"It's a very interesting fight to analyse and to think about which Joshua is going to show up. We've got to find out which Josh was going to show up. 

"I think that if Joshua steps aside and lets Fury fight Usyk, it might not be a bad idea. I really think it might not be a bad idea, and Anthony fights the winner. 

"I think it'd be a great step for the heavyweight division, uniting the belts, and then Joshua would get the winner. He was the champion, he was the guy. I don't want to say it was a fluke, but he was upset by a great guy, a tough guy to fight. 

"I don't care who fought Usyk. Usyk is a machine. He's not like normal people. He's not like normal humans. This man can handstand on his arms for an hour. This is what I was told. This man is in phenomenal shape. 

"As the rounds go on, he gets stronger. As you can see in the Joshua fight in the 12th round, he put his foot on the gas. I think that he's going to be a tough guy to beat for Fury, for anybody. 

"Maybe not Fury because of the height and the size, but we're going to see. That's what makes it great, because the interest is there. If Joshua is to step aside and let him fight Usyk, it might not be bad. Just a thought, and then he fights the winner."

Indeed, Usyk is a phenomenal machine, having held world champion status in two weight classes while he is one of only four boxers to simultaneously hold the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO titles.

Briggs, who collected 53 of his 60 wins via knockout, appreciates the class of Usyk as he reiterated the 34-year-old's impressive abilities.

"Again, like I said earlier, the fight with Usyk is a battle," he added. "It's not an easy fight, it's a tough fight. 

"It's a 50-50 chance. [Actually], it's more like a 60-40 chance that you lose because he's in phenomenal shape, he's a freak of nature, and he's not normal. 

"On top of all of that, he's a southpaw. It's awkward, it's coming from another way. You've got to have super conditioning and step to him. 

"You've got to be able to punish him and knock him out, but you can't be boxing him from the outside. You've got to wear him down. He's slippery, he's moving, he's awkward. You've got to be in tip-top shape to beat a guy like that."

Joshua was surprisingly outclassed by Usyk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last September as the Ukrainian won the IBF, WBA and WBO world heavyweight titles.

Usyk will defend his belts for the first time in a rematch this weekend with the Briton in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at the final press conference before their bout at the Shangri-La hotel in Jeddah, Joshua insisted he has to win, but felt confident after his camp with new trainers Robert Garcia and Angel Fernandez.

"That's it. Must win," Joshua said. "I like the pressure. It's been tough. Robert Garcia, Angel Fernandez, existing members of my previous team as well, definitely pushed me, challenged me. 

"Now we just get the job done. Instinct, stay focused, get the job done, God willing, victorious."

On his motivation for the fight, where he will face the unfamiliar role of challenger, Joshua said: "It's competition.

"I've got goals I want to achieve in the ring on the night. That's competition with myself. You've got to have a competitive spirit."

Usyk is aiming to repeat his impressive performance from the first fight, and seemed relaxed at the press conference, echoing what his opponent said about the importance of competition.

"We were born to compete for life, for belts, for everything. The one who does not compete does not live," Usyk said.

"All our lives are competition, for anything, for something, for somebody. That's why we are competing."

Either as a mind trick or simply to show how unfazed he was in general, as Joshua was leaving the stage following their face off, Usyk burst into song, joined by members of his team.

So says the two-time world heavyweight champion's promoter, Eddie Hearn, who revealed Joshua is set to fight American Franklin at the O2 Arena in London on April 1.

The Briton is on a mission to reignite his career after losing his WBA, IBF and WBO belts to Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021 and failing to regain them in a rematch in Jeddah last August.

Official confirmation is expected next week for Franklin to be Joshua's next opponent, and Hearn expects the 33-year-old to put on a show.

He told BBC Sport: "It's a really tough fight with loads of pressure to come back, because if AJ doesn't win this fight, then we've got a major problem.

"I believe you'll see a statement from a guy who is very dangerous, very motivated to become a three-time heavyweight world champion."

Franklin was beaten by Dillian White in his last fight in November, and Hearn expects him to suffer another loss on his return to England.

Hearn added: "There's so much contradiction: 'Anthony Joshua is finished, mentally he's shot. But he'll knock out Jermaine Franklin inside three rounds.'

"The same people that say Jermaine Franklin beat Dillian Whyte, but he's a terrible opponent for Anthony Joshua in a comeback fight after two defeats to the pound-for-pound number one.

"What this guy has done from a resume perspective is unbelievable. And I'm telling you now, this guy [is] still top-three heavyweight, capable of regaining his heavyweight world title."

Usyk outclassed Joshua at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, earning a unanimous points decision to win the IBF, WBA and WBO world heavyweight titles.

Joshua is set to face the unbeaten Ukrainian in a rematch following the second defeat of his career.

Brit Joshua said he has "learned his lesson" from the loss to Usyk, two years after Andy Ruiz Jr sensationally stopped him at Madison Square Garden.

Klitschko was beaten by Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster in 2003 and 2004 respectively but responded by going 11 years without defeat.

The former world heavyweight champion, who lost to Joshua in the final fight of his career, says his former rival can put his latest setback behind him.

"We have seen AJ challenged," he told Sky Sports.

"I remember my time. I lost two fights within [13 months]. To bounce back? To eventually become one of the longest reigning champions?

"AJ can still have his time, absolutely. It is all about how to overcome the challenge."

Klitschko was not surprised to see his compatriot Usyk become a heavyweight champion for the first time.

"Since 2012, I watched Usyk winning his [Olympic] gold and I watched AJ winning his gold.

"Usyk has been undefeated for such a long time, winning all the titles as a cruiserweight and now with the heavyweights. This man is something special."

Joshua has not fought since failing to reclaim the WBA-Super heavyweight, IBF and WBO belts from Oleksandr Usyk last August, having first surrendered the titles to the Ukrainian in September 2021.

The 33-year-old, who has lost three of his last five fights after going unbeaten through his first 22 as a professional, has reportedly held talks with both Demsey McKean and Otto Wallin in recent weeks.

However, Franklin appears to have emerged as the favoured candidate for Joshua's next outing, which promoter Dmitriy Salita expects to take place at London's O2 Arena on April 1.

"Jermaine is a world-class heavyweight from Michigan in America, who is on his way to bringing a big win back home," Salita told Sky Sports.

"We hope to get the deal over the finish line to help Jermaine bring his lifetime dream to fruition."

Franklin made his first appearance on British soil in November, earning plaudits for his performance in a majority decision loss to Dillian Whyte, the first defeat of his professional career.