Anthony Joshua said five things to improve in Usyk rematch by Carl Froch – EXCLUSIVE

Anthony Joshua received five points from former world super middleweight champion Carl Froch ahead of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk. The British heavyweight was taken down the last time they met, but Froch thinks some changes could tip the scales in AJ's favour.

After an impeccable rise through the ranks, Joshua's two career losses have come in his last four fights. The most recent, against Usyk 11 months ago, was a damaging unanimous decision that saw AJ club out at home.

This time around, the pair will swap Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for King Abdullah Sports City in Saudi Arabia. While the venue is new for both fighters, Arabia will hold fond memories for Joshua after he avenged his loss to Andy Ruiz Jr in Diriyah three years ago.

The stakes are high for the Briton in his rematch with Usyk on Saturday night, with prospects of a successful fight sure to dwindle if he is beaten convincingly again. Froch believes he can avoid that fate if he focuses on aggression, being on the front foot, getting the better of his opponent and using size and weight advantage.

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"Usyk will be extremely confident in the rematch," he told Express Sport. "AJ is trying, he changed coaches so it could change his mindset. He could be heavier, lighter, move his head more, aggressive - we don't know what his style will be.

"If AJ has worked to be aggressive, on his front foot, using his height and weight advantage and getting the better of Usyk, he will come into the rematch with Usyk feeling capable of doing so.< /p > READ MORE Oleksandr Usyk lost 10 kg in a week after Russia invaded Ukraine

“It will be tough, the guy is better than AJ in boxing and more competent, but he has all the physical attributes to beat this guy. But it all depends on his mind. I don't know where he's going to find it unless he's had a really good training camp. We won't know until fight night."

Usyk is still undefeated in his professional career, which began in Kyiv in 2013. Since conquering the heavyweight division and moving up to heavyweight, he's knocked down Chazz Witherspoon, Derek Chisora ​​​and AJ. Froch believes the latter's prospects of continuing to fight at the top level may depend on the nature of his rematch with the Ukrainian.

“It depends on how it affects him mentally,” he added. "He's still a big, strong and fit athlete, so it depends on how the defeat if he loses. The last round of the first fight, he was beaten.

"He was consistently boxed and broken down, and then when Usyk felt like stepping on the gas a bit…Remember, this was only Usyk's third fight at the heavyweights heavy. When you're in unfamiliar territory, you're not sure of yourself, so he would have gained so much confidence."

Froch was speaking at the launch of the McLaren Turbo Series on PartyPoker, in association with McLaren Racing. The full McLaren Turbo Series schedule can be viewed on the PartyPoker website.

"It's going to be tough, the guy is better than AJ in boxing and more competent, but I have all the physical attributes to beat this guy. But it's all about his spirit. He must have a confident spirit, and I don't know where he's going to find it unless he's had a really good training camp. We won't know until fight night."

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