Anthony Joshua has officially confirmed he will be joining forces with Oleksandr Usyk’s training team as he gears up for his highly anticipated bout against Jake Paul.
The announcement came during Friday’s press conference for the fight, which is set to take place on December 19 at the Kaseya Center.
The contest promises plenty of drama both in and out of the ring, with a staggering £140 million prize pot to be shared evenly between Joshua, a two-time heavyweight world champion, and Paul, the 28-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer.
A New Chapter After a Tough Loss
This fight will see Joshua return after a 14-month hiatus following his heavy defeat to Daniel Dubois.
That loss led to a parting of ways with trainer Ben Davison, and sparked immediate speculation about Joshua possibly joining Usyk’s camp.
Rumors intensified when Joshua was spotted ringside at Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s fight against William Skull, chatting with Usyk and his manager Sergey Lapin.
More recently, Joshua trained alongside Usyk’s strength and conditioning coach, fueling talk of a full-time switch.
Joshua Confirms the Move
Speaking at the press conference, Joshua revealed:
“I have been invited to train with Team Usyk.
He is the best in the world and I have been in Spain with them.
I have been training with them for a few weeks.”
The move is seen as a strategic decision. Having lost to Usyk twice in the past, Joshua will be hoping to learn from the team that once outclassed him, giving him a fresh perspective and edge ahead of his comeback.
Jake Paul Reacts to the Challenge
Jake Paul didn’t shy away from acknowledging the threat.
“He is training with the best in the world.
He is one of the best in the world so we expect nothing less.
I want the best version. It is a big mistake to look past this,” Paul said.
Paul also laid out his own ambitious plans: “Don’t arrange flights and hotels, I am knocking this guy out, becoming the CEO of Matchroom, and it’s me vs Tyson Fury next year.”
The remarks make clear that both fighters are approaching the bout with confidence—and plenty of stakes beyond the £140 million prize pot.
Joshua’s Fourth Trainer Since McCracken
Since parting ways with Rob McCracken, the coach who guided him to 24 wins in 26 fights, Joshua has moved between several camps.
He first trained under Robert Garcia, then Derrick James, before linking up with Ben Davison in 2023.
Now, with Usyk’s team in his corner, Joshua enters his fourth major coaching partnership since McCracken.
The hope is that learning from the camp that once defeated him will provide the tactical and mental boost needed to reignite his career, potentially setting the stage for a showdown with Tyson Fury in 2026.
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