Usyk’s Bold Claim: Joshua in Top 5 Despite Losses

Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has made a surprising statement, naming former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua among his top five boxers in the world. This declaration comes despite Usyk’s dominant victories over Joshua in their two previous encounters.

As Usyk prepares for his highly anticipated rematch against Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 21st, he revealed his top five list during an interview with DAZN. The Ukrainian sensation placed pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford and super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez at the top of his list. Following closely behind, he named Anthony Joshua, a fighter he has clearly outclassed in the ring.

Joshua’s recent career trajectory has been marked by setbacks, most notably his devastating knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September. This defeat, which saw Joshua dropped multiple times before the fight was halted, has significantly impacted his reputation. Despite this, Usyk’s inclusion of Joshua in his top five highlights the Ukrainian’s respect for his opponent’s skill and past achievements.

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Usyk’s top five list is rounded out by Tyson Fury and undefeated Japanese sensation Naoya Inoue. Fury, who is aiming to avenge his loss to Usyk, has promised a more aggressive approach in the rematch, vowing to knock out the Ukrainian. Inoue, on the other hand, continues to dominate the bantamweight division with his exceptional boxing skills and devastating power.

The winner of the Usyk-Fury rematch could potentially face Joshua in 2024, as the British fighter has no plans to retire despite calls from various boxing figures. This potential matchup would undoubtedly be a highly anticipated clash between two of the biggest names in heavyweight boxing.