Anthony Joshua disclosed that the camp surrounding Ukrainian heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk urged him to "show greatness" while the two titans of the division shared a training session in preparation for Joshua's upcoming comeback bout. The British fighter, a two‑time world heavyweight champion now 36 years old, spent time training alongside his former adversary as he readied himself for a clash with Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia this Saturday. Joshua explained to Sky Sports that observing Usyk’s preparation gave him insight into the meticulous approach the Ukrainian employs, especially after Usyk’s recent victory over Dutch kick‑boxing champion Rico Verhoeven in May. "It’s an elite team," Joshua said.
"I got to see how he prepared for Rico. The level of detail, the intensity, the focus – it was all there." He added that while the responsibility ultimately rests on each fighter, the advice from Usyk’s camp was crystal clear: raise the bar even higher. "The team has given us everything we need; now it’s just down to us to do the work," Joshua remarked.
He praised his own abilities, noting that he is naturally strong and capable of both delivering and absorbing punishment. Yet he acknowledged that the Usyk team was not satisfied with merely adequate performance. "They want to see more, they want us to bring it out," he said, emphasizing the push for continual improvement.
The British champion also reflected on how his training methodology has evolved. "Let’s bring out the good stuff you’ve got inside you and improve it," he said. "My approach to training has definitely improved a lot." He recognized, however, that training and fighting are two distinct arenas. In the gym, athletes have the luxury to tweak techniques and make adjustments, but once the bell rings, there is no room for refinement.
"Sometimes in a fight you don’t have that luxury to make improvements," Joshua explained. "You’re under immense pressure, and you have to perform at your best from the first round." Joshua reiterated the message from Usyk’s team: greatness should be a daily habit, not a one‑time spectacle reserved for fight night. "Your greatness should just be something you do every day in the gym. So doing it on fight night shouldn’t make any difference.
It’s a do‑or‑die moment where you show greatness," he said. "You should be able to do it from round one." Looking back over his career, Joshua has amassed 29 wins out of 33 professional fights, with 26 of those victories coming by way of knockout.
He remains confident that his raw aggression and power are still intact and ready to be unleashed when the opportunity arises. "That’s the name of the game. There’s no overtime," he asserted. "If I can end it, trust me, I will.
But I know what my mind is telling me. I know what I have to do. And however long it takes, I’ll be content as long as I’m victorious." The upcoming bout with Prenga represents more than just a stepping stone; it is a statement of intent ahead of a potential showdown with British rival Tyson Fury later in the year. Joshua’s exposure to Usyk’s preparation methods appears to have sparked a renewed commitment to excellence, both mentally and physically.
By internalizing the mantra "show greatness," he hopes to demonstrate that his elite status is not merely a product of past achievements but a living, breathing standard he upholds every day. In summary, Joshua’s time spent alongside Usyk’s team served as a catalyst for heightened ambition. The Ukrainian champion’s camp urged him to push beyond his comfort zone, to make greatness a constant rather than an occasional flare. As he steps into the ring against Prenga, Joshua aims to translate those lessons into action, showcasing the blend of skill, power, and relentless determination that has defined his career.
The message is clear: greatness isn’t a special occasion—it’s a daily commitment, and Joshua intends to live up to it, starting from the very first round of his next fight.