“I’d be stupid to say I’m better than him. He beat me twice, didn’t he? I can definitely win a fight in the future, but for now he’s better than me. I’ve got to give him his credit,” Joshua told MF Pro and Radio Raheem. about Usyk.
By admitting that Usyk is better, Joshua effectively killed the invincible Joshua persona that had made him look like after the Andy Ruiz loss.
Usually the top guys spend years spinning “what-if” scenarios or blaming the judges, but Joshua is taking the “Rocky III” route by basically saying, “I’m not the best right now, so I’m going to live with the guy who is.”
Joshua chose a cleaner route and accepted the outcome as it was rather than re-opening the debate about it.
He no longer has to pretend to be the king. Aj can once again play the role of the challenger, which is usually when he is most dangerous. Training in Usyk’s environment and even working with coach Iegor Golub of Usyk’s team shows that he has traded his ego for real improvement. Joshua admits that he needs to learn the “skills” that he once claimed didn’t matter as much as “strength”.
“I’m with someone who’s better than me, so obviously I’m going to progress on the back of that. Anyone can do it, but they want it more. They just put in the work basically,” Joshua said.
Usyk was supportive, especially after the tragic car accident Joshua dealt with in late 2025. Most heavyweights are too proud to admit they can’t outwork someone else, but Joshua uses that difference as a target.
“We don’t compete, but we just put our energy in the gym and support each other like that. I can definitely win a fight in the future, but for now he’s better than me,” Joshua said of Usyk.
If Usyk sticks to the “Three-Fight Roadmap” he laid out this March, Joshua is officially the odd man out. ” The competitive window for a trilogy is slammed by Usyk’s specific legacy checklist.
Usyk’s retirement plan: Rico Verhoeven on May 23, the winner of Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois in late 2026/early 2027, and Tyson Fury in the final.
