Oleksandr Usyk makes bold Anthony Joshua prediction ahead of Tyson Fury fight

Oleksandr Usyk is still backing newfound friend Anthony Joshua for big things, despite his nervy return to the ring.

Joshua was dropped twice in the first round of his fight with Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night before rallying back to knock out the Albanian heavyweight.

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While the clash has prompted a strong reaction from talkSPORT’s very own Simon Jordan, Joshua did what he needed to do on his return to the sport — seven months after he was involved in a tragic car crash.

The 36-year-old can now look ahead to a potential mega-fight with fellow British star Tyson Fury, who forced Polish veteran Mariusz Wach to retire on his stool in his warm-up fight in Thailand on Friday.

And Usyk, who welcomed Joshua to his training camp in Valencia, Spain, ahead of the meeting with Prenga, has not only doubled down on his belief that the Brit will be the next undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

The Ukrainian also believes Joshua will go out and flatten Fury, just as he did to Prenga, if the pair eventually trade leather.

Usyk joins talkSPORT

“Anthony Joshua is next undisputed champion,” Usyk told talkSPORT’s Spencer Oliver in the aftermath of Joshua vs Prenga.

Speaking on Joshua’s early knockdown, Usyk continued: “First round. It’s a test. But ‘AJ’ is back.

“Yeah, it’s boxing, you know? It’s boxing after all. He fought good. It’s a knockdown. ‘AJ’ is back and won.”

Usyk believes Joshua’s knockdowns will have people talking, especially his former foe Fury, whom he calls ‘greedy belly.’

“Greedy belly, greedy belly, I know. You will now say, ‘Ow! Ow! You have a weak chin,’ blah blah blah,” Usyk added.

“Greedy belly, get out.”

Asked about ‘The Gypsy King,’ Usyk concluded: “No [I didn’t see Fury defeating Wach]. Yes [we get Fury vs Joshua next].

“AJ will win. Knock him out.”

Joshua paid homage to a famous Mike Tyson speech in his post-fight interview, saying he is going to rip Fury’s heart out if the pair meet.

“I respect everything he’s done and everything that he’s achieved,” Joshua said.

“But as a fighting person and someone who called for this fight for a long time, we’re here now.

“I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat.”

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Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed at the event’s press conference the deal to fight Fury is 100 per cent signed.

He said the only way Joshua vs Fury doesn’t take place on British soil is if he and ‘AJ’ agree to it, ‘because we have a legally binding contract.’

An announcement is expected in the next couple of weeks.

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