Anthony Joshua has added an unusual and demanding stretching routine to his preparations as he steps up training for a proposed heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury.
The two-time world heavyweight champion shared footage of himself undergoing the gruelling workout at his training base in Dubai, giving fans a glimpse into the methods being used ahead of his expected return to the ring.
Joshua was strapped into a modern Pravilo machine, which stretched his arms and legs into a starfish-like position before rotating his body.
The painful-looking exercise has been described as “torture” training by British media outlets, including the Daily Mail and The Sun, although the machine is designed for stretching, mobility and conditioning.
Joshua appeared to take the experience in good humour, captioning the Instagram video: “When the instructor says, relax and breathe.”
The Pravilo is associated with Slavic and Russian training traditions and has gained attention for its unusual approach to flexibility and physical conditioning.
Joshua’s latest workout comes as speculation continues to build around a long-awaited clash with fellow British heavyweight Fury.
The proposed fight is expected to take place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in December, following reports that plans for the bout to be staged in New York had been changed.
Joshua has previously fought twice in Cardiff, defeating Carlos Takam in 2017 before stopping Joseph Parker in 2018.
A meeting with Fury would bring together two of Britain’s most recognisable heavyweight stars for the first time in a professional contest, adding further intrigue to Joshua’s latest training preparations.
With the potential blockbuster now being discussed for December, Joshua’s unusual stretching session underlines the level of physical preparation being undertaken as he works towards another major heavyweight challenge.
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