Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk press conference LIVE: Heavyweights meet ahead of Saturday’s fight

The Briton and the Ukrainian came face-to-face ahead of Friday’s weigh-in

(Sky Sports)

Thursday saw the final press conference ahead of Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk’s clash for the unified world heavyweight titles.

The mouthwatering dust-up, which will be for the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles, is set to take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday. It promises to be a thrilling night in London and, just over 48 hours away from the bout, champion Joshua and the undefeated Ukrainian came face-to-face for the first time since the contest was made.

Neither man is notorious for trash talking their opponents, and both remained largely composed and respectful on Thursday. Joshua came out with the comments most resembling fighting talk, however, saying, “You guys will be coming out to watch me hit a live bodybag,” and “if you told me I was fighting King Kong, I’d give it a go.”

Many are calling Usyk too small to deal with a heavyweight the size of Joshua. Others are saying the former undisputed cruiserweight champion possesses the boxing skill and nimbleness needed to frustrate the Briton and cause a seismic upset.

The real build-up started on Thursday as we got a good look at both fighters. Re-live updates from the press conference ahead of Friday’s weigh-in:

Joshua vs Usyk final press conference

• Joshua defends world heavyweight titles against Usyk on Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
• AJ returns to ring after knocking out Pulev last December
• Usyk, unbeaten at 18-0, looking to become a two-weight world champion after undisputed reign at cruiserweight
• Ukrainian has won both heavyweight fights since moving up in weight and outpointed Derek Chisora last October

[23 September 2021 13:47 · Dylan Terry]

Short break

Now there is a short break in proceedings as the undercard press conference has finished and we await the arrival of the two big guns at 2pm.

Don’t go anywhere though as we are building up to the first face-off between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk.

A real tension in the air!

[23 September 2021 13:42 · Dylan Terry]

Okolie ready for war

Lawrence Okolie could not look less fazed by the media circus surrounding this fight week. Calm. As. You. Like.

[23 September 2021 13:40 · Dylan Terry]

Prodan-Marku face-off

Safe to say Florian Marku is unpredictable.

[23 September 2021 13:37 · Dylan Terry]

Okolie keen to win in front of home fans

Lawrence Okolie is looking to defend his WBO cruiserweight title on Saturday evening when he takes on Montenegrin Dilan Prasovic.

The 16-0 Brit has been pretty unphased in his rise to world honours as a professional. Could this be his first serious test?

[23 September 2021 13:33 · Dylan Terry]

Smith ready to bounce back from Canelo defeat

Callum Smith has been out of the ring for nine months after being beaten by Canelo Alvarez in a unification bout at the end of 2020.

The Liverpudlian is jumping up from super-middleweight to light-heavyweight. But make no mistake, Smith was a ridiculously big 168-pounder and is still a big 175-pound fighter.

He faces Lenin Castillo on Saturday night in his first fight up at light-heavyweight. Should win.

[23 September 2021 13:27 · Dylan Terry]

Campbell Hatton ready to fight

Ricky Hatton’s son Campbell will fight his fourth professional contest on Saturday night as he continues his progress after turning over from the amateurs.

The 20-year-old has a lot to learn but is already making noise due to the name he carries. Now he has to live up to that hype with performances in the ring.

[23 September 2021 13:22 · Dylan Terry]

Fireworks already!

Wow! Maxim Prodan has really wound Florian Marku up here! The Albanian got up and wanted to scrap with Prodan right there and then.

He was dragged away by security but has now returned to the stage. Always a lot of trash talk when Marku is involved.

[23 September 2021 13:20 · Dylan Terry]

Joshua will beat Usyk inside seven rounds, predicts Whyte

Dillian Whyte has tipped Anthony Joshua to win his heavyweight battle with Oleksandr Usyk inside seven rounds.

“[Anthony] Joshua will stop him in the first five, six, or seven rounds,” Whyte forecasted on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“Usyk will start fast, and Joshua will be a bit cagey because he’s a southpaw, and he’s lighter. Joshua also lacks confidence sometimes in fights where he can get caught up.

“Hopefully, he goes back to his old self and starts pressing Usyk and being the bigger, stronger guy and starts backing him up and hitting him with stuff.”

[23 September 2021 13:15 · Dylan Terry]

Joshua vs Usyk

Just two days until we witness Joshua and Usyk battle it out for three versions of the world heavyweight title at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Can AJ retain his belts for the second time since regaining them from Andy Ruiz Jr? Or can Usyk throw a spanner in the works by becoming a two-weight world champion?

[23 September 2021 13:10 · Dylan Terry]

Hearn questions Usyk’s power ahead of Joshua fight

Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has questioned Oleksandr Usyk’s power ahead of their heavyweight title fight on Saturday.

He said: “I think everyone can punch. I don’t think he is a puncher.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t be fearful of him as a puncher because he is sharp and sometimes he hits you from angles with shots that you don’t see and sometimes they’re the deadliest ones.

“I’m sure he can hurt all heavyweights, but I don’t fear his power in this fight like I would watching AJ against Wladimir (Klitschko) or against (Deontay) Wilder if that fight happened.”