The monotony of a boxing training camp can get to any boxer competing at any level. Muhammad Ali once said about training, “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’” But what’s got to be done has got to be done. One needs to put in the hours to reap the benefits. Heavyweight champion of the world Anthony Joshua is no stranger to hard work.

The British heavyweight’s long strenuous hours on the grind is one of the biggest factors behind his success. However, to break the cycle, the WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight champion gave MMA training a go. Working with former UFC middleweight Luke Barnatt, AJ threw in some heavy kicks and knees during a light-hearted training session.

AJ, who is currently enjoying his time in the beautiful Spanish city of Marbella, will soon go into camp for his upcoming fight. Set to face Oleksandr Usyk on September 25, AJ has almost two months on his hands at the moment. He will return to England to start his camp soon.

Can we see Anthony Joshua enter MMA competition?

The 31-year-old has entertained the thought of giving mixed martial arts a go in the past. In 2017, AJ told Sky Sports, “I like fighting, I’d do whatever. I’d probably get beaten. The only thing that they can’t do is submissions, but they can kick, elbow, whatever they want. Just no submissions.”

For now, AJ is set for one of his toughest challenges to date. He will defend his belts against the mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk. Given the nature of the upcoming fight, he will look to use his speed and agility. Although Joshua is known for his incredible athleticism as a heavyweight, he will be facing a guy in Usyk who is much lighter on his feet. Usyk, on the flip side, is bulking up to take on the much bigger man.

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The training leading up to the fight will be crucial for either athlete. Will Joshua’s power reign supreme over Usyk’s speed-based game? We’ll find out on September 25.

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