Boxing · Anthony Joshua
Exclusive Interview with Sergey Lapin: Anthony Joshua ‘lost a part of himself’ in horror accident, we cannot judge him on one bad round
Speaking to Action Network, Sergey Lapin, Director of Team Usyk and a prominent member of Anthony Joshua’s training corner, responded to recent criticism following Joshua’s rollercoaster victory over Kristian Prenga.
Sergey LapinSpeaking to Action Network
Director of Team UsykProminent member of Joshua’s training corner
Joshua def. PrengaResponding to post-fight criticism
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Interview Overview
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Lapin dismisses early-round criticism, explaining that the opening round is for gathering information rather than delivering a final verdict
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Lapin sheds light on the psychological recovery Joshua faced following his tragic accident and loss of close friends
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Lapin reveals that Joshua’s emotional reaction post-fight signaled a fighter regaining his self-belief rather than breaking under pressure
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Sergey Lapin Interview
On the criticism
Sergey Lapin · Director of Team Usyk“You can’t judge a fighter based on one round. The first round gives you information, it doesn’t deliver a verdict. Yes, there were things we didn’t like, and we’ll analyze them carefully.
“But the most important thing is that he adapted, made adjustments during the fight, and won. The ability to adapt under pressure is what separates great champions from everyone else.”
Q:
Did his accident have any bearing on his performance?
SL:
Sergey Lapin · Director of Team Usyk“I’m not a doctor, so I won’t make medical conclusions. But anyone who has gone through such a serious accident faces not only a physical recovery but also a psychological one. That said, I think it’s far more important to focus on what he has regained rather than what he may have lost. He stepped back into the ring and won. That’s what matters today.”
Sergey Lapin · Director of Team Usyk“It speaks volumes about his character, his enormous heart, and his genuine love for boxing. AJ went through a tragedy that would take many people years to recover from. He lost close friends, and with them, a part of himself. Yet he returned to the ring.”
Sergey Lapin · Director of Team Usyk“What’s important is that he found the strength to return to the one place where the pressure is greatest and where you cannot hide from yourself. So before people criticize him, they should take a moment to think about what he’s been through. To me, that’s what real character looks like. AJ isn’t just a fighter. He’s a real man.”
Q:
What did I make of his emotions after the fight?
SL:
Sergey Lapin · Director of Team Usyk“He has been through an incredibly difficult period in his life. Sometimes the pressure you’ve been carrying inside for months comes out in a single moment.
“Behind the scenes, I didn’t see a broken man. I saw a man who had started believing in himself again. And in my opinion, that’s even more important than the victory itself.”