Lawrence Okolie urges Anthony Joshua to copy Tyson Fury in rematch with Oleksandr Usyk

Anthony Joshua has been urged to copy Tyson Fury when he takes on Oleksandr Usyk for the second time next year.

The Ukrainian eased to a shutout points win over Joshua last month to claim his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts.

Lawrence Okolie, who is signed to AJ's 258 Management, has told his boss he must replicate Fury's style during his trilogy fight against Deontay Wilder.

The Bronze Bomber was temporarily silenced by Fury at the start of last year, as 'The Gypsy King' recorded a famous stoppage victory.

And the Brit then beat him again a year later via an eleventh-round TKO.

Fury and Joshua

And Okolie thinks the best way AJ can regain his belts is if he copies Fury's tactics.

"He was in there with a world class fighter, a generational talent," he told the Daily Mail.

"It’s not just a case of you doing this and that happens. There’s another person in there trying to prevent that and knock you out.

"There’s stuff AJ can do to try and change the way the fight looks and feels, and I think he will.

"But in terms of his performance, he tried his best and it wasn’t good enough on the day.

"You have to just say Usyk was great that night and AJ has to work on certain things to beat that style."

He added: "As you saw with Fury and Wilder, Wilder is an exceptional fighter, an exceptional puncher.

"But Fury decided, you know what, I’m 277-pounds and I’m going to let you know it.

"He pushed him back, he rallied through the hard rounds, ground him down and got the stoppage. I believe AJ can do something similar."

Okolie, 28, beat Dilan Prasovic on the same night Joshua lost his belts to Usyk.

Asked if he feels Joshua can avenge his defeat to Usyk, he replied: "Of course AJ is a talented boxer, but Usyk is an extremely talented boxer.

"Nine out of ten heavyweights aren’t going to try and box Usyk, they’re going to go in there and say 'I am a natural heavyweight, let me show you.'

"I believe AJ does that, and alongside the boxing skills he has, he’ll get it done.

"He relied a bit too much on his boxing ability, where sometimes you have to remember it’s a contact sport, so go in there and make contact."

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