‘It will be tough for Joshua to topple Usyk’ –  says former champ 

Former world champion Johnny Nelson has said it will be a "big ask" for Nigeria-born former heavyweight champion of the world Anthony Joshua to beat Oleksandr Usyk.

The British heavyweight is out for revenge in Jeddah next month as he looks to topple his Ukrainian opponent.

Usyk beat AJ in a unanimous points decision last September to win three heavyweight titles and hand AJ his latest setback.

But the Watford-born star is hoping to get his career back on track as the big-money rematch, live on Sky Sports, draws closer.

Former cruiserweight champion turned boxing pundit Johnny Nelson reckons the odds are stacked against Joshua.

The 55-year-old told Sky Sports: "This is not an impossible ask but it's a tough ask.

"When he lost to [Andy] Ruiz everybody said 'he's done, he's written off', he went back and said 'I've got to change my tactics'.

"This is what he's got to do in this fight, he's got to change his tactics. He tried to beat Usyk at his own game and in doing so he walked straight into Usyk's plan, that's exactly what he wanted to do instead of using his natural ability.

"To change this, what Anthony Joshua has to do is fight his fight. He out-smarted himself instead of doing what's worked for him in the past and what's got him to this stage in his career."

Joshua was once being lined up for huge clashes with the likes of Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder before the humbling loss to Ruiz in 2019.

And Nelson reckons he's still in the process of rebuilding his reputation.

He added: "Anthony Joshua had that crossover appeal when you've got people interested in boxing that wouldn't bat an eyelid at it.

"You're looking at his style and what he's done and there's always people that say 'well this opponent wasn't that', he wasn't given the credit he deserved. This fight will be that fight. 

"Remember, he's done it twice now. If Anthony Joshua goes in there and beats him, the next person will be like 'yeah, but you've not beaten Tyson Fury or not beaten Deontay Wilder'.

"He's always going to have these things, but to me this proves you've got to respect him.

"Because he's gone in there with one of the best fighters in the world and he's going to go in there and beat him, if he does that where do the questions come from then?"

The rematch has seen people from across the boxing world predict who will come out on top in Saudi Arabia.

British boxer Frazer Clarke who has been in the gym with AJ thinks he will be able to "outhustle" Usyk this time.

But Mike Tyson's ex-coach Teddy Atlas believes the Brit will lose to not just Usyk but Joe Joyce as well, who could face the winner of the fight.