Anthony Joshua warned he may get ‘devastatingly’ KOd by Oleksandr Usyk if he uses wrong tactics

Dave Allen has told talkSPORT he believes Anthony Joshua could get ‘devastatingly’ taken out by Oleksandr Usyk if he uses the wrong tactics in their heavyweight rematch.

AJ was well beaten by the Ukrainian in September, but moved quickly to activate his contractual clause for a rematch to win back his world titles, which is expected to take place around April 2022.

Allen told the talkSPORT Boxing Insider: “I think the most important thing is belief, his self-belief.

“Usyk won convincingly. He outboxed him, he out-fought him, at times he beat him in a firefight, he even out-powered him. He did everything. It was pretty one-sided to be honest…

“I know they’re both Olympic gold medallists, but in terms of boxing ability there’s light years between them.

“They approached it all wrong. I seen him walking to the ring, asking for advice on the way to the ring.

“Anthony, you’re 6ft 6ins, 18 stone, you’re heavyweight champion of the world – believe in yourself.

“Get a game plan, train and believe in that game plan, stick to it, go in the ring and impose your physical strength and size on Usyk.

“But I don’t think we’ll see that. I think Usyk’s got an answer for everything.”

Regarding how he predicts the rematch will play out, Allen said: “I expect Anthony Joshua to make it a completely different match-up this time.

“I think he will try and rush Usyk, he will try and impose his physical strength and size.

“But that is not the way to beat Oleksandr, Oleksandr’s too clever.

“His power was causing problems for Anthony in the first fight and I believe if Anthony is to march onto one, he will get took out pretty devastatingly.

“I think I know how to beat Oleksandr Usyk, but is there a man alive that can do what is necessary to beat him? I’m not sure.

“I don’t think Anthony Joshua has the attributes to do what is necessary.

“I think this time Anthony will take more risks, I think he will come in with a game plan that is aggressive.

“I think he will try and take control of the centre of the ring, push him back and use his power.

“But I think that may leave him open for Usyk’s speed and superior boxing ability.”

Should both Usyk and Tyson Fury emerge victorious in their next fights as the ‘White Rhino’ predicts, then an undisputed clash between them could be enormous.

Allen concluded: “I believe the only man that is capable of beating Oleksandr Usyk is Tyson Fury.

“And the only man capable of beating Tyson Fury is Oleksandr Usyk.

“So, for me, it’d be the best heavyweight fight probably since Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier.

“I think it’s that big, I think the fight would be that big.

“Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury for all the belts would be one of the biggest fights in the history of boxing.”