By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
Veteran boxing trainer and former world champion Buddy McGirt has expressed confidence that Anthony Joshua can defeat Oleksandr Usyk in a potential third fight, despite the Ukrainian’s two previous victories over the British heavyweight.
In an interview with Boxing News, McGirt acknowledged Usyk’s dominance but singled out Joshua as the one fighter capable of beating the undisputed heavyweight champion.
“You’re going to say I’m crazy, but there’s a guy that can beat him, and he’s already fought this guy twice… I’m not talking about Tyson Fury,” McGirt said. When pressed, he confirmed, “Anthony Joshua can beat him.”
Usyk boasts an impressive record, including title wins over Marco Huck, success in the World Boxing Super Series, and back-to-back victories over Joshua and Tyson Fury to claim the undisputed heavyweight crown.
Usyk first defeated Joshua in September 2021 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, capturing the WBA, WBO, and IBF titles, and retained them in their August 2022 rematch in Saudi Arabia.
McGirt’s prediction highlights Joshua’s continued relevance in the heavyweight division.
While a third fight with Usyk remains uncertain as the Ukrainian explores other opponents, Joshua still commands attention as one of boxing’s biggest draws.
The heavyweight landscape remains competitive, with rising talents like Moses Itauma also gaining recognition. Tyson Fury has tipped Itauma as a potential future threat.
For Joshua to secure a trilogy clash with Usyk, he would likely need to defeat top-tier contenders and reassert himself as a legitimate challenger for the undisputed titles.
