Anthony Joshua, a former heavyweight champion, has resumed training with Oleksandr Usyk as he prepares for a return to the ring in a blockbuster “Battle of Britain” clash with Tyson Fury later this year.

Joshua and Usyk have been working together in Valencia for several weeks, with the British heavyweight returning to Spain after watching Fury’s recent unanimous points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Read Also: Tyson Fury pushes N277bn Anthony Joshua blockbuster fight for 2026

Fury fight in sight

The 36-year-old Olympic gold medallist is being lined up for a potential bout with Fury in November, possibly at Wembley Stadium.

Comeback after tragedy

Joshua’s comeback will be his first fight since surviving a car crash in Nigeria in November that claimed the lives of two close friends. He is awaiting medical clearance in the coming weeks after sustaining injuries in the incident.

Former rivals unite

Usyk, the reigning WBC, WBA and IBF world champion, defeated Joshua in 2021 and 2022, but the pair have now joined forces in training camp. The Ukrainian has emphasised the importance of mutual support, saying, “If we don’t help each other, we are not people; we are animals.”

Related News

Hearn hails partnership

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, said the partnership has provided a major boost to the former champion.

“It just gives him an unbelievable lift. At the moment, he’s very happy,” Hearn said. “He’s worked so hard to get himself physically ready to return to full-time camp. When he’s focused, he has that purpose.”

Hearn described intense training sessions between the pair, with Usyk pushing Joshua to his limits.

Focus on Fury

Joshua is also closely analysing Fury’s recent performance, having filmed the fight from ringside. According to Hearn, he has been studying the footage repeatedly as anticipation builds toward a potential high-stakes showdown.

“The build-up to the Fury fight will be incredible, but the fight itself will be even bigger,” Hearn added.

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.

Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date

Open In Whatsapp