Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk came face-to-face for the first time since their fight as they met at a press conference to preview their rematch in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
The heavyweights shared a long and intense face-off at the end of the media event for the August 20 fight, with neither man wanting to look away first.
Usyk and AJ had a two-minute face-offMatchroom Boxing 
They refused to break eye contactMatchroom Boxing
Promoter Eddie Hearn made two attempts to get the fighters to face the front for photos, but neither budged.
Then AJ himself pointed to the front, signalling for Usyk to look away.
However, the Ukrainian refused to do so and eventually, after almost two minutes, Joshua turned his head and broke his opponent’s gaze.
At the press conference itself, Joshua said: “Definitely the hunger’s still there.
“Blips happen, but resilience, mental toughness, consistency will prevail.
“I’m focussed on the target sitting over there.
AJ told Usyk to turn awayMatchroom Boxing 
Usyk turned his body, but retained eye contactMatchroom Boxing 
Joshua was first to turn his headMatchroom Boxing
“God willing I’ll perform and become three-time heavyweight champion of the world.”
He added: “The fight with Usyk, he bust my a*** for some rounds and I had to take that defeat like a man as well.
“I hold myself accountable.
“In the fight in September I was wrong and he was right, I have to reverse that August 20…
“We have to give him, his team credit where credit’s due.
“I respect him and his craft and what he’s acheived.
“If I’m around someone that’s better than me on the night, I have to push myself to be better than them.
“The great thing is I’ve got a second chance.”
Both men spoke well at the presserMatchroom Boxing
#UsykJoshua2 pic.twitter.com/I2ZK14PXsD
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) June 21, 2022
Usyk said: “I am very happy I’m here.
“I am very happy my next fight is gonna happen. It’s a big honour for me to be here.
“As we all know, we are not in the best conditions at the moment back at home, but we are doing what we have to do, we are doing our job, working hard to achieve our goals.
“I never made any loud and bright speeches.
“All I did is I just work hard in my training camp in my gym, that’s what I’m gonna do until the fight.
“And then I will enter the ring and I will make you happy with my boxing, thank you.”
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