Usyk bids to put Joshua’s career on ropes

Ukrainian heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk has drawn on his Cossack heritage as he prepares for his world title clash with towering Briton Anthony Joshua, whose career could face a reckoning on the Red Sea.

Usyk, roared on by millions of war-wracked Ukrainians, is the bookies’ favourite for Saturday’s clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after he dismantled Joshua to snatch his belts in London last year.

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Joshua, the 6ft 6ins (1.98m) former Olympic heavyweight champion, has recruited respected coach Robert Garcia and looks set to unleash a more aggressive style to avoid back-to-back losses.