Joshua Leaves Ben Davidson

“So no, I wont be trained by Ben Davison. I said that London is a bit distracting for me. I was invited to train with team Usyk, so I’ve been in Spain, we’ve been doing some good training and he’s one of the best in the world and it’s not all down to him it’s also down to his team, so I linked up with them. Getting an insight into how someone who has achieved so much has been phenomenal. Igor [will be my head trainer on the night]. I’ve been with them a couple of months now,” Joshua said 

Areas For Improvement

Joshua’s recent setbacks highlight areas for improvement in defense and ring generalship. Joshua is often too rigid defensively, relying heavily on a high guard that fails against agile and precise attackers. This static style makes him a predictable and vulnerable target for sustained attacks and fast counters. For example, in the first Usyk fight, his lack of subtle head movement and footwork allowed Usyk to continually find angles and land clean shots on his head.

A second issue is Joshua’s stamina and pacing. Joshua’s highly muscular frame have consistently led to him “gassing out” during the championship rounds against top-tier opponents. This was most evident in the Usyk rematch, where a massive, aggressive output in the ninth round left him completely depleted for the final three rounds, allowing Usyk to easily reclaim momentum and control the pace of the fight.

Joshua must also improve his tactical flexibility. The fact that he is now training with members of Usyk’s former team suggests an awareness of this need, aiming to internalize the very concepts of footwork and ring control that Usyk so masterfully used to defeat him.