Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has thrown his weight behind Anthony Joshua, predicting victory over Tyson Fury and actively helping his former opponent devise a game plan for the much-anticipated all-British showdown.
Joshua is set to return to the ring on 25 July against Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and has already inked a deal to face long-time rival Fury later this year. The 36-year-old has been training with Usyk in recent months, splitting time between camps in Spain and Ukraine.
Undefeated Usyk, who has beaten both Joshua and Fury twice, told BBC Sport: "In my opinion, AJ wins against Fury. Fury is an unbelievable fighter and a very dangerous guy, but I look how Anthony works and how he has changed. I like Fury, he is my greedy belly best friend, he's an amazing fighter but I want Anthony to win — he deserves it."
Usyk views Joshua's bout with Prenga as "official sparring" and expects no trouble, but his focus is on advising Joshua on how to overcome Fury. The Ukrainian is preparing to defend his WBC title against Rico Verhoeven on 23 May in Egypt and will welcome Joshua into his camp in the coming weeks.
"We will help him in training," Usyk said. "We speak about strategy, boxing skills and psychology. We speak about fights, our fights, and I say 'champ, come on, don't stop'."
Joshua's last fight was a routine win over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in December, but he took time away from the sport to recover mentally and physically after being involved in a fatal car crash later that month that killed two of his friends. Usyk, who has lost friends during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, expressed empathy.
"I said 'listen, God gave you one more chance. Take this chance and don't stop or cry. This is life, pray every day and God will help you. Whatever you need I will help,'" Usyk recalled. "It's hard but I think my friends now are like angels. Every day I pray for these guys — this is life. I don't know what waits for me and my team tomorrow, but I continue to work, pray and help. If God gives you a gift every day then appreciate it. It's hard but you must continue to live because God gives you that."