
Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk have recreated the iconic *Rocky III* training montage, showcasing their evolving friendship after previously being rivals. The pair shared a video of their beach training session, paying tribute to the film's themes of camaraderie and resilience.
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Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk paid homage to the celebrated Rocky III training montage, as their unlikely rivals-to-allies partnership continues to blossom.
Following a car crash in Nigeria last December that tragically killed two close friends, Joshua has trained this year in Spain and Ukraine alongside his former adversary, who has beaten him twice in the ring.
Usyk posted an Instagram video on Saturday of the pair racing on a beach to the Rocky music, recreating the iconic scene between Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathersâ characters.
The tribute is particularly poignant, as Stalloneâs Rocky Balboa and Weathersâ Apollo Creed also boxed each other twice in the film before becoming training partners and close friends.
âThis isnât a movie remake, itâs a new story being created right now,â Usyk wrote in the caption.
The video also features the duo punching the heavy bag and interacting as they ready themselves for imminent fights, with Joshua set to return to the ring against Kristian Prenga on 25 July.
The bout against the Albanian heavyweight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is expected to be a tune-up before Joshua takes on Tyson Fury in a long-awaited âBattle of Britainâ towards the end of the year.
According to Joshuaâs promoter Hearn, who spoke to The Independent and other publications on Tuesday, the old rivalsâ joint-training has given AJ âan unbelievable liftâ.
âWhen I was there, heâd be doing these circuits, like heâs doing these tempo sprints,â Hearn said.
âMost people do those sprints on their own, with nothing else attached; he would do his sprints, then heâd go over and do this kettle-bell circuit, then heâd do sledge â with this f***ing big fitness trainer standing on the sledge.
Their training together symbolizes a shift from rivalry to friendship, highlighting personal growth and resilience after past challenges.
They recreated the famous training montage by racing on a beach while playing the iconic music from the film.
Joshua's tragic car crash in Nigeria last December, which resulted in the loss of two friends, prompted him to train alongside Usyk, fostering their bond.

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Usyk posted an Instagram video on Saturday of the pair racing on a beach to the tune of the Rocky music as they recreated the scene between the characters played by Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers. (Oleksandr Usyk/Instagram)
âThen heâd go back into the sprints. Iâm like: âWhat the f***?â
âWhen he started, I went to the guy: âHow many are you doing?â He went, âThree, because heâs just coming back to training.â I went, âThree, is that all?â because I thought that was all [he was doing, sprints].
âHe went: âOkay, we'll do five.â AJ went: âF***, mate, youâre never coming back!â
Usyk, the two-time undisputed world heavyweight champion, is set to defend his WBC title against renowned kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in Egypt in a fortnight.