Sergio Mora thinks that Oleksandr Usyk has earned his position as favourite going into his rematch with Anthony Joshua.
The pair fought in September 2021 to contest the IBF, WBA and WBO belts that the Briton put on the line, and the Ukrainian came away victorious with a dominant performance.
Asked if he was surprised that Usyk was the favourite now, Mora told JABS on The DAZN Boxing Show: “No way, Usyk controlled that fight. It was an upset, now we know what to expect with Usyk. He’s going to bulk up, he’s going to look bigger, he already knows the power.
“He knows the timing, engaged the distance of the bigger man in Joshua.
“Usyk knows what he’s in for and he passed the test the first time.”
Mora explained how the distinct styles of Robert Garcia and Angel Fernandez may make more sense than some fear.
“I love Robert Garcia,” he began.
“I would love to see Joshua with a Mexican trainer. Angel Fernandez, I can guess why they kept him because he’s Cuban.
“Most amateurs who come out of Cuba are southpaws, so they have a southpaw expert, with that Mexican style.
“Which I think is why they have that synergy. But Anthony Joshua is going to have to be somebody he is not. More swift on his feet, he's going to have to concentrate on speed more than power, he’s going to have to have upper body movement.
“He’s just going to have to track down the southpaw. You’ve got to rough him up, these are things you need athleticism for, which we’ve never seen from Joshua. We’re going to have to see upper body movement. He’s real stiff, trying to land that right hand. If we do see a reinvention of Joshua, it’s going to surprise all of us.”
Chris Mannix however pointed out the unique motivating factors for Usyk this weekend.
He said: “This is not just a man defending multiple world titles, he’s fighting for a war torn nation. Every picture of him he’s been wearing the blue colours of Ukraine. He’s going to be as motivated perhaps as any fighter in the history of boxing.”