Oleksandr Usyk: Anthony Joshua’s critics ‘have no right’ to judge heavyweight

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing

Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Oleksandr Usyk has hit out at critics of Anthony Joshua, saying they have ‘no right’ to judge the Briton.

Joshua suffered back-to-back decision losses to Usyk in 2021 and 2022, losing the unified heavyweight titles to the Ukrainian in their first fight and failing to regain them in their rematch.

“AJ”, 33, rebounded from those results with a decision win against Jermaine Franklin in April, though his performance was not entirely convincing. Still, the Briton has come in for too much criticism, according to Usyk.

“I think [Joshua] just needs a little more time to recover, the 35-year-old told Boxing King Media on Sunday (4 June).

“Who are those people who judge him? Who are the judges? Have they ever entered the ring? Have they ever trained and felt that pain? They have no right to say so.

“If you want to talk about the fighter, you have to at least once in your life get into the ring and get a sparring session – at least for one round, for three minutes. Then, you will have the right.”

The unbeaten Usyk is expected to defend his titles against another Briton, Daniel Dubois, in Poland in August. Dubois, 25, is the mandatory challenger to Usyk’s titles.

Usyk was in talks with WBC champion Tyson Fury over an undisputed-title clash this spring, but negotiations collapsed in March. Briton Fury is still without an opponent, though he tried and failed to revive talks with Joshua last week.

Joshua is instead expected to box Dillian Whyte in August. AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn said on Monday (5 June) that an offer has been sent to Whyte, whom Joshua knocked out in 2015.

Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos.