Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2: Mike Tyson issues rematch warning

Mike Tyson has warned Anthony Joshua not to take a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk unless he makes some drastic changes to his training camp.

AJ, 32, was accused of failing to use his superior size advantage against Usyk, 35, after he succumbed to the second defeat of his career at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September.

The London 2012 Olympics hero has already put plans in motion to take his revenge on the Ukrainain by handing his new trainer Angel Fernandez the task of improving his game after replacing his longtime coach Rob McCracken.

But ‘Iron Mike’ believes it would be a bad idea for Joshua to rematch Usyk straightaway as he insists he has some urgent things he needs to fix before he gets back in there with one of the all-time greats.

Speaking on his podcast, Tyson said: “I wouldn’t fight him right away unless I have had him in the gym with guys that are really awkward left-hand fighters.

“Because you know he is really outboxing, outsmarting. He wasn’t prepared to handle a guy with a good jab.

“Size means nothing.

“When you look at the statistics and they say he’s 240, this guy’s 220, you can’t weigh somebody’s will and desire, and determination.

“The movement just threw him off. I’ve been there before when the movement, it’s like dancing. Someone just can’t keep up.”

Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that Joshua’s rematch with Usyk will ‘definitely’ take place in June despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Hearn revealed that he is working feverishly away with Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk to find a suitable location after receiving several bids from different countries all across the world.

He added that the Middle East is ‘very interested’ in hosting the fight in particular, with Saudi Arabia