Dmitry Salita discusses Usyk-AJ rematch and Jarrell Miller comeback plans
In an interview with BoyleSports Boxing, Ukrainian boxing promoter Dmitry Salita stated that, “Oleksandr Usyk is on a different level to Anthony Joshua and will get the better of him again.”
The former fighter also believes AJ has regressed as a boxer ever since his stunny victory over Wladimir Klitschko in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley.
When asked if Anthony Joshua could improve enough to win the rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, Salita was brutally honest, “Usyk is the better fighter and I just don't see how AJ can make the adjustments to beat Usyk, I don't see it.
“Usyk is a very experienced fighter, had a tremendous amateur career, and is an Olympic gold medalist. He has been taught the science of boxing as a kid and really knows boxing like a scientist, on a scientific level. He's a boxing master, one of the most educated boxers in the world, maybe even of all time. He's really, really well educated in terms of the sweet science.”
The former world title contender went even further to say that AJ has regressed as a boxer ever since his victory over Wladimir Klitschko, “This isn’t to take anything away from AJ, he's a great fighter and did some amazing things in his career, but when he beat Klitschko that was the peak of his career. And after that, he's been progressively slipping down just a little bit every fight.
“Ever since the day that AJ was supposed to fight Jarrell Miller but he fought Ruiz, he's been on the way down.
“Even in his last win against Pulev he looked okay, but he did not look great and did not look like the old AJ.”
However, the 40-year-old Ukrainian suggested one possible factor that could hinder his fellow countryman on fight night, “AJ is athletically very gifted and a hard worker and did the best he can with what he's got. But I believe that skill wise and boxing knowledge wise these are two different athletes.
“The only thing that AJ has in his favour is we don't know how what's going on in Ukraine affected Usyk. Has it inspired and motivated him, or is it causing him trouble and emotional turmoil? No one really knows.
“But based on Usyk's successful professional and amateur career, he has the mental strength to be able to deal with challenges. I think that he will be able to compartmentalise what's going on in the Ukraine and the professional task of being successful in the ring.”
Raised in New York, the boxer-turned-promoter manages Jarrell Miller, who was scheduled to challenge Anthony Joshua in his U.S. debut, but after failed drug tests, the Brit replaced him with Andy Ruiz Jr.
The Brooklynite gave an update regarding his heavyweight charge, “Jarrell Miller needs maybe one more fight to be ready for Joshua. Look at Tyson Fury, he had two very mediocre fights before he fought Deontay Wilder and gave him the fight of his life. There's definitely some unfinished business.
“Jarrell has been clean for a significant amount of time, he's VADA tested continuously. I saw Eddie say that Joshua will fight in December regardless whether he wins or loses. Obviously there's a lot of bad blood between Jarrell and AJ, they were originally supposed to meet at Madison Square Garden, but I do think that Jarrell would go to the UK for this one, and I would love to make it happen. AJ v Jarrell, unfinished business, that could be the title of the fight. It's the perfect fallback plan if Usyk wins and Joshua needs a monstrous comeback fight in December with global appeal.”
