Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2: Brit needs to go back to being the old 'AJ'

Anthony Joshua needs to rediscover his old self if he is to stand any chance of beating Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch this summer.

That is according to the Ukrainian’s former opponent Tony Bellew, who insists Joshua still has the ability to become a three-time heavyweight world champion but needs to make a few changes.

AJ, 32, surrendered the unified WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts last September to Usyk, 35, who put on a boxing masterclass at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that the pair will rematch in June at a location and date to be announced.

Writing in his DAZN column, Bellew admitted that he was baffled by Joshua’s tactics during his first fight with Usyk.

He wrote: “The manner of Joshua’s loss surprised me in their first encounter. Not because of the result, I know better than anyone just how good Usyk is, but more the approach.

“There were several advantages that I spoke about in the build-up, most notably the size difference, that Joshua could use, but he went in a different direction and that was great news for Usyk.

“A big change is needed if he’s to become heavyweight champion again, but he can do it. 

“The rise of Anthony Joshua is one of the best British boxing stories of all time. Olympic gold medallist to world champion in the space of a few years along with selling out arenas and stadiums on the journey.

“His win over Wladimir Klitschko in 2017 was a glorious occasion, one of the best I’ve been at, and the grit and determination shown in that fight is what I want to see from ‘AJ’ moving forward.” 

And Bellew believes Joshua needs to revert to type just like he did against Dillian Whyte and Wladimir Klitschko.

Bellew added: “If he’s to be successful against