Reigning heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has voiced strong support for Anthony Joshua’s return to boxing, insisting the former unified champion remains mentally focused, physically healthy, and fully committed to resuming his career.
Usyk spoke amid concerns surrounding Joshua’s future following a recent car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of Joshua’s coaches and close friends. Addressing the situation, the Ukrainian champion revealed that he had spoken directly with Joshua and was reassured by the determination he heard.
“I’ve already spoken with him. I heard a desire to continue in his voice – for the friends he lost and for the chance to live that the Lord gave him,” Usyk said.
Drawing from his own experiences of loss, Usyk offered a deeply personal reflection on perseverance. He recalled a conversation with the mother of a close friend who was killed while defending Ukraine during the ongoing conflict.
“Once I spoke with the mother of my fallen comrade, and she told me, ‘Oleksandr, he would be very proud that you are continuing your work; he will watch you from heaven,’” Usyk added.
The heavyweight champion said he believes his fallen friend, along with others who died defending Ukraine, now serve as guardian angels guiding him through his career. He suggested that the same sense of purpose could fuel Joshua’s motivation to continue boxing after tragedy.
Usyk and Joshua faced each other twice in the ring, in 2021 and 2022, with the Ukrainian emerging victorious on both occasions. Despite their rivalry, the pair have developed mutual respect, strengthened further after Joshua trained with Usyk’s camp earlier this year.
Usyk’s comments are likely to ease speculation surrounding Joshua’s next move, reinforcing expectations that the British-Nigerian boxer will seek a comeback when he is ready, driven by resilience, faith, and the desire to honour those he has lost.
