The pair are two of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world, and have been close friends for years since starting out in the Ukrainian amateur scene
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Anthony Joshua works out ahead of Oleksandr Usyk fight
Vasyl Lomachenko has touched down in London ahead of his friend Oleksandr Usyk’s world heavyweight title shot against Anthony Joshua.
The Ukrainian duo are close friends, and are considered two of the best fighters in the world, with both men former unified champions at their respective weight classes.
And Lomachenko was in attendance at Tottenham Hotspur stadium today to support his pal at his pre-fight press conference for his effort at the heavyweight world title.
The Ukrainian has said that it’s a tough fight to call given the incredible technical pedigree of both men in the main event.
“This is a very interesting fight,” Lomachenko told IFLTV. “This is a very historic fight for me.
“If you ask me about the result, then I will answer that I do not know. These are two technical and powerful boxers, so I don’t know.
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Image:
Instagram/Usykaa)
“Anthony Joshua is a big heavyweight star, and that’s why Usyk wanted to fight him.
“In addition, he is the heavyweight world champion. Oleksandr wants to unify the titles and become the champion in this weight division.”
Usyk and Joshua both won gold at the 2012 London Olympic games, with the Brit taking the top prize at super heavyweight while the Ukrainian won at heavyweight.
And Lomachenko believes that with their amateur credentials and the way that Joshua says he has prepared for the fight, it is unlikely to be ended early.
“This is boxing, which is why I love it,” Lomachenko said. “Of course, a knockout is possible, but I don’t know.
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“You know what? They both have a lot of amateur experience. I think that the fight will go through all 12 rounds, but, perhaps, there could be a stoppage, I don’t know.”
Usyk is a big underdog for his fight with Joshua given the size differential, which was on display when they finally went face-to-face this week.
He was a legendary undisputed champion at cruiserweight, but has only got out twice since moving up to heavyweight due to the coronavirus pandemic.
His first outing after making the step up was a seventh round stoppage of Chazz Witherspoon before taking on Derek Chisora last Halloween.
The Chisora fight saw him struggle with the bigger man’s size, and has filled Joshua fans with confidence for the bout, which will take place in front of 63,000 fans at Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London.
But Joshua has insisted that he is treating Usyk with the necessary reverence, compiling a very specific training camp that included mostly amateur sparring partners and even saw him work one-handed in certain sessions.
He was initially supposed to fight Tyson Fury on August 14, but when that bout was cancelled due to Fury being ordered to face Deontay Wilder, Joshua pushed his mandatory defence back to late September so that he could prepare properly for Usyk.
