Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk’s Unexpected Alliance Has Left Boxing Fans Surprised
For years, Oleksandr Usyk was one of the biggest obstacles in Anthony Joshua’s career. The Ukrainian defeated Joshua twice, first taking his heavyweight titles in 2021 before winning their rematch the following year. Those losses pushed Joshua into one of the most difficult periods of his career.
But their story has taken a remarkable turn.
The man who once took Joshua’s championship belts is now helping him prepare for the next stage of his career. Usyk has opened up about their relationship, revealing just how much their connection has changed since their rivalry inside the ring.
FROM RIVALS TO TRAINING PARTNERS
It would have been difficult to imagine Joshua and Usyk working together immediately after their second fight.
Joshua entered their first meeting as one of heavyweight boxing’s biggest stars, while Usyk arrived as an undefeated former undisputed cruiserweight champion.
Usyk produced an outstanding performance and defeated Joshua on points, taking his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles.
Joshua returned for the rematch determined to regain his belts. Although he performed better and made the fight much more competitive, Usyk once again came out on top.
Many expected the rivalry to remain bitter. Instead, the two former opponents eventually developed a completely different relationship and began training together.
Usyk has explained that their relationship has moved beyond the hostility that existed when they were preparing to fight each other.
For Joshua, having someone who has actually shared the ring with him at championship level provides a unique advantage.
USYK UNDERSTANDS JOSHUA BETTER THAN MOST
There is a major difference between receiving advice from a coach who has studied an opponent and getting guidance from someone who has defeated that opponent twice.
Usyk has experienced Joshua’s power firsthand. He understands his combinations, pressure, movement and reactions during difficult moments.
That experience could be extremely valuable as Joshua continues trying to rebuild his career.
Joshua has previously indicated that working alongside Usyk has helped him develop his understanding of boxing, particularly when it comes to reading punches and improving his defensive awareness.
Throughout Joshua’s career, questions have surrounded his style.
Should he be more aggressive? Should he box cautiously? Can he trust his chin? Can he maintain his technique when under heavy pressure?
Those questions became especially important after his defeats.
Now, remarkably, Joshua is learning from the very fighter who exposed many of those weaknesses.
THE SURPRISING DETAIL ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP
Perhaps the most interesting part of Usyk’s comments is not related to boxing technique.
Usyk has revealed that Joshua has become comfortable within his family and training environment. His children have also reportedly developed a friendship with the British heavyweight.
That might appear to be a minor detail, but it highlights just how dramatically the relationship has changed.
These two men once fought each other for heavyweight supremacy in front of huge audiences. Now they can train together, spend time around each other and support one another.
Their relationship appears to have developed into one based on trust and mutual respect.
Usyk has also spoken positively about Joshua’s character and indicated that he is willing to help him whenever necessary.
This suggests that Usyk’s role is about much more than technical advice. He has become part of an environment aimed at rebuilding Joshua’s confidence, discipline and belief.
JOSHUA’S CAREER NEEDED A NEW BEGINNING
The partnership comes at an important point in Joshua’s career.
His defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024 created further doubts about whether he could return to the very top of the heavyweight division.
Joshua had already changed trainers and experimented with different approaches in an attempt to rediscover his best form.
Then came an even more painful moment away from boxing.
In December 2025, Joshua was involved in a serious car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two members of his team, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
Joshua survived and eventually returned to training, but the tragedy inevitably changed the circumstances surrounding his career.
His comeback was no longer simply about winning another championship. It was also about finding the motivation to continue.
Usyk later indicated that his conversations with Joshua convinced him that the former champion still had the desire to remain in boxing.
THE PRENGA COMEBACK CHANGED THE NARRATIVE
Joshua eventually returned to the ring against Kristian Prenga in Jeddah on July 25, 2026.
The comeback was far from straightforward.
Joshua was knocked down twice during the opening round, immediately creating another difficult moment in a career that had already featured several major setbacks.
However, he responded impressively.
Joshua recovered, regained control and stopped Prenga in the second round.
The victory changed the conversation around his future.
Instead of people asking whether Joshua was finished, attention turned toward a different question: just how far can he still go?
Usyk praised Joshua after the comeback and reportedly suggested that his former opponent could still return to the top and potentially become an undisputed heavyweight champion again.
That prediction is particularly interesting because Usyk knows firsthand what Joshua can do when he performs at his best.
USYK COULD PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN JOSHUA’S NEXT CHAPTER
Joshua still wants to compete at championship level, but the heavyweight division has changed considerably.
Usyk has vacated several of his heavyweight titles, creating opportunities for a new generation of fighters.
For Joshua, that means the route back to a world championship may be difficult, but it is not necessarily closed.
The former champion now has another opportunity to rebuild his reputation and potentially challenge for major titles again.
And Usyk could be one of the people helping him along that journey.
THE TYSON FURY CONNECTION
Another major name continues to hang over Joshua’s future: Tyson Fury.
A Joshua-Fury fight has been one of heavyweight boxing’s biggest potential matchups for years.
Both British stars have lost to Usyk, and both have experienced difficult periods while attempting to rebuild.
Joshua has continued to discuss the possibility of facing Fury, while Usyk has publicly backed Joshua and suggested that his former rival has the ability to defeat him.
That creates an unusual situation.
Usyk defeated Joshua twice.
He also defeated Fury twice.
Now the Ukrainian is helping Joshua prepare for the next stage of his career, potentially bringing together two of Britain’s biggest heavyweight names through an unexpected connection.
JOSHUA MAY NOW BE APPROACHING BOXING DIFFERENTLY
It would be easy to judge Joshua solely by his previous defeats, but his current approach appears to be different.
The focus is not simply on becoming stronger or throwing harder punches.
Instead, the emphasis appears to be on boxing intelligence, defensive awareness, conditioning, concentration and discipline.
At heavyweight level, even a tiny mistake can completely change a fight.
A single lapse in concentration can undo several rounds of good work, while one perfectly timed punch can alter an entire career.
Joshua understands this better than most.
His losses to Usyk and Dubois showed how quickly a fight can change when an elite opponent finds an opening.
Training alongside Usyk gives Joshua access to something extremely valuable: direct knowledge from someone who has already solved the problems he is trying to overcome.
THIS GOES BEYOND A NORMAL FRIENDSHIP
Describing the Joshua-Usyk relationship as simply a friendship does not tell the whole story.
Their connection is built around shared experiences.
Both men have been champions. Both have experienced enormous pressure. Both have faced criticism after difficult fights, and both understand what it takes to rebuild after major setbacks.
For Joshua, Usyk represents an unusual kind of teacher.
The man who once defeated him has now become someone capable of helping him learn from those defeats.
Joshua has also recognized the importance of surrounding himself with experienced people who understand his goals.
That could prove to be one of the biggest changes in his career.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Joshua has already shown that he can overcome adversity.
Even after being dropped twice by Prenga, he recovered and stopped his opponent.
However, beating a comeback opponent does not automatically prove that Joshua is ready to defeat the best heavyweights in the world.
The real test will come when he faces elite competition again.
If Joshua eventually receives another world-title opportunity, the influence of Usyk and his team will receive much greater attention.
Every defensive improvement, tactical adjustment and strategic decision will be examined closely.
And if Joshua manages to win another heavyweight championship, the story will become even more remarkable.
The fighter who once took his titles could ultimately become one of the people who helped him win them back.
FROM CAREER SETBACK TO POSSIBLE REVIVAL
Anthony Joshua’s career has been filled with dramatic highs and lows.
He became an Olympic champion, captured heavyweight world titles, suffered devastating defeats, changed trainers and repeatedly attempted to rebuild himself.
He has also endured serious personal tragedy outside the ring.
Now, one of the most unexpected developments of his career has emerged: an alliance with the fighter who once stood between him and heavyweight greatness.
Usyk defeated Joshua twice.
Today, however, he is helping him prepare, sharing his experience and publicly supporting his ability to return to the top.
That does not guarantee Joshua another world championship, nor does it erase the defeats he has suffered.
But it has changed the story.
The rivalry that once appeared to symbolize the end of Joshua’s reign has transformed into an unlikely partnership.
Usyk is no longer simply the man who beat Anthony Joshua.
He has become one of the people helping Joshua believe that his story is not finished.
If Joshua eventually reaches the summit again, this unusual relationship could be remembered as one of the most important turning points of his career.
