Nigerian-born world boxing heavyweight champion, Anthony Olaseni Oluwafemi Joshua has adopted ‘street running’ fitness drills as part of his daily routine for his next tile defence, megasportsarena.com reports.
With the London 2021 Olympic Games gold medalist set to tango Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk on the 25th of this month at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the two-time champ says he cannot afford to be slack in his preparations.
Consequently, ‘AJ’ has hit the road with regular running routines, as he steps up preparations for his heavyweight showdown with Usyk, while also revealing his intention to slim down and reduce the current size of his frame before the bout.
He acknowledged that physical conditioning will be key for him against the unbeaten Usyk, hence his decision to push himself to the limit by hitting the streets, while also disclosing that cardio remains an important part of his training routine.
The WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion, who usually posts pictures of himself training in the gym with the focus on weightlifting and core exercises, has taken a different angle to his build-up this time, as he uploaded footage of himself out running.
Joshua recently told Sky Sports why Usyk’s footwork makes him his trickiest ever opponent, as he expatiated: “Movement means you are never stationery to get hit. Movement is important.
“Concentration – when you want to [punch], you lock in, then make a move. You have to make sure your brain works.
“That can be mentally fatiguing so I am sharpening the mind so that I can concentrate for the 12 rounds. Also I practice having the ability to [punch] four times, not just once.
“Concentrate, take your time, pin him down. It’s a fight for the brain. Knowing what you’ve got in front of you and knowing how to deal with it.
“You can either be aggressive, corner [him], throw everything at it. Or take your time, be clever, then knock [him] out.”
CAF