By: Sean Crose
Trainer Ben Davison has educated his share of champions – WBC and lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury being maybe the largest (in additional methods than one). Now, nonetheless, Davison is coaching one other heavyweight of observe – former WBO, IBF, and WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. It can be fascinating to see how properly the famous ring common will work work with the towering Londoner. Joshua, in any case, has misplaced two of his final three fights, each occasions to Oleksandr Usyk, who took away Joshua’s belts earlier than defending these belts efficiently of their rematch. Now nonetheless, Joshua has an opportunity to as soon as once more impress, as he’s set to face Otto Wallin, who gave Fury nearly greater than the “Gypsy King” might deal with a couple of yr’s again, Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
Of course, Joshua-Wallin isn’t the one battle to be taking place this weekend within the Middle Eastern Kingdom. Former WBC champ Deontay Wilder can be squaring off in opposition to former WBO heavyweight champ Joseph Parker, and that’s solely one of many quite a few fights that may go down on the identical card as Joshua-Wallin. It’s a loaded occasion, to make certain. And a related one. Should Joshua and Wilder show victorious, there’s a very excessive chance that the 2 males will sq. off early subsequent yr. Since teaming up with Davison, nonetheless, Joshua has taken half coaching with quite a few fighters concurrently.
“In terms of camp, I respect all the fighters,” Joshua says. “They’ve been there before me. To go in there, I’m aware I’ve got to be respectful of their space. I’m not in there like the big Charlie like, ‘yeah, I’m here now.’ Nah. I respect everyone there. I show them love.” Joshua signifies that it’s about extra than simply the person fighter. “I’m a big supporter of boxing,” he says. “Everyone wants to do well. Everyone wants to push themselves.”
Joshua not solely trains alongside his group mates, he trains with them. “Me and Jeamie TKV (Tshikeva), we do our crunches and our abs together, me and Leigh Wood do circuits together, Shabaz, Pat, Luke, and all of the other boys in there. I respect the coaches, as well.” Ultimately, Joshua and his group mates are conscious of how vital this weekend’s stacked card is, not just for the careers of these concerned, however for the game heading into 2024. “This is the best fight card in history,” Joshua says. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen one like this.”
