British Expert Believes Usyk–Joshua Training Closes the Door to a Trilogy

British boxing analyst Gareth A. Davies believes that the reported joint training work between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk effectively closes the possibility of a third fight between them. He explained why he thinks this will be the case.

“I think it’s actually a very good move — to go and learn from Oleksandr Usyk.

If Joshua ends up facing Tyson Fury, and Oleksandr Usyk continues boxing until he’s 41, as he says, then Anthony would still have the chance to chase Oleksandr for a third fight. And here’s the problem. If he’s training alongside Usyk and his team — it will be difficult to go back into the ring against Usyk. And that’s what he was pursuing. And Fury was pursuing it too.

For about three weeks I knew he was training with Usyk’s team. Maybe two and a half weeks. I found out about it, but I was asked to keep it quiet — he didn’t want it to become public. I truly don’t know why he wants to hide it.

I believe this closes the door to a third fight with Usyk. Once you are around them, you become involved, you train with them — you build relationships, something we’ve seen many times across combat sports. Fighters become close, become like family, like brothers. And then the psychological break required to fight each other again becomes too difficult,” Davies said.

Usyk and Joshua met twice — and Oleksandr Usyk won both fights by unanimous decision.