Via Jack Tiernan: Tony Bellew says Anthony Joshua must have the old “search and destroy” mindset for him to get his rematch win over Oleksandr Usyk in August.
It wouldn’t be nice if Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) tried to beat a boxer like last time against Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) in September.
Somehow, Joshua got the idea that he was going to beat Usyk at his own bout by boxing him in 12 rounds, and it turned out to be an absolute disaster.
By the time Joshua realized he had made a mistake, it was too late for him to return to the normal power game to defeat Usyk.
“A change of scenery would give AJ a better world. Tony Bellew said to DAZN about Anthony Joshua changing coach from Robert McCracken to Robert Garcia for his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
It may be a mistake for Joshua to assume that American coach Robert Garcia is better than any of his previous coaches McCracken because he is not. McCracken is a good coach, and the fact that Joshua was beaten by Usyk and Andy Ruiz Jr. defeat is not his fault.
“For me, the biggest factor leading to this fight is what AJ is doing here [head],” said Bellew. “It must be a search and destroy mentality, nothing else. Don’t box a boxer. Drag him into a fight.
“Play to your strengths and weaknesses and use them to your advantage,” Bellew continued. “I’m telling you, this guy is the best athlete the heavyweight division has ever seen. He’s the fastest, he’s the strongest.
“You put this guy in a sprint, and he’ll suck any heavyweight on the planet in the 100 meter sprint. You’ve got certain types of skills that get you the heavyweight title. Don’t stop them now.
“Go in there and use them to the best of your ability. If you lose, so be it, but think that you did all you could to win this war.
“Don’t look back at it,” I should have hit the gas on the fourth or fifth round. I should have gone to the knockout. What will happen?’ I do not know. Go in there and do and find out, then you won’t regret it.
Bellew said: “In my opinion, that is in his hands. “It gives them [Robert Garcia and Joshua] Time to create better gels, better game planning and locate coordination partners.
“You will never find anyone as good as Usyk. If they were anywhere as good as Usyk, they would be world champions. He has it all. This boy [Usyk] is unbelievable.
“Usyk has a lot going on in his private life at the moment, and I don’t want to see any excuses afterwards. His country is at war. We are just waiting for a final date and location,” Bellew said of Usyk.
