Johnny Nelson, pictured here in 2004, remains the longest-reigning world cruiserweight champion ever
“So, if Usyk beats him, I reckon he’ll walk away. With this fight here, it’s so important for [Joshua’s] career, because he knows this might be the last big fight he’s in. It’s not in his DNA to stand back and be a gatekeeper for anybody.”
Joshua previously lost to Andy Ruiz Jr in June 2019, suffering a stoppage defeat by the Mexican-American at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Joshua, 32, avenged that loss by outpointing Ruiz Jr in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December of the same year.
His only other defeat came against Usyk last year, and the pair are now set to rematch in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Usyk is unbeaten as a professional and previously reigned as the only undisputed cruiserweight champion of the four-belt era. The 35-year-old is an Olympic gold medalist, as is Joshua.
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