Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk will share the ring once more this month, because the heavyweights go face to face with the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO titles on the road in Saudi Arabia.
The pair’s rematch comes 11 months after their preliminary conflict, which noticed Usyk comprehensively outpoint Joshua within the Briton’s personal yard, taking the belts from “AJ” at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Now Joshua, 32, will search to regain the titles for the second time in his profession as he faces the unbeaten Ukrainian in Jeddah. In 2019, Joshua misplaced the belts to Andy Ruiz Jr at New York City’s Madison Square Garden with a stoppage defeat, earlier than avenging that end result with a choice win in opposition to the Mexican-American in Saudi Arabia on the finish of that yr.
Can Joshua replicate that feat by handing Usyk, 35, the primary lack of the southpaw’s skilled profession?
Here’s all you should know forward of the seismic rematch.
When is it?
Usyk vs Joshua 2 will happen on the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia on Saturday 20 August.
Ring walks for the main-event contest are anticipated to happen at round 10.30pm BST (2.30pm PT, 4.30pm CT, 5.30pm ET).
How can I watch it?
Sky Sports Box Office would be the solely place to look at the struggle within the UK and Ireland.
The pay-per-view occasion will price £26.95 within the UK and €31.95 in Ireland.
Odds
Oleksandr Usyk (proper) was a choice winner in opposition to Anthony Joshua final yr
(Getty Images)
Usyk – 4/9
Draw – 16/1
Joshua – 13/8
Via Betfair.
Who will Usyk struggle subsequent?
Most followers hope the winner of this weekend’s rematch will tackle WBC title holder Tyson Fury to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion. However, there isn’t any deal in place for such a struggle as issues stand.
Briton Fury final fought in April, knocking out compatriot Dillian Whyte to stay unbeaten and retain the WBC belt, and he has since claimed to be retired. The “Gypsy King” has, nonetheless, gone backwards and forwards on the matter, and there’s a perception from his promoters that Fury won’t be able to withstand the prospect of a conflict with the victor of Joshua vs Usyk 2.
There is all the time the likelihood, although, that Fury commits to retirement and relinquishes his title, or {that a} obligatory challenger for one of many belts is given precedence.
Daniel Dubois is the WBA champion’s obligatory challenger and may very well be the likeliest opponent for the Joshua-Usyk 2 winner, if an undisputed-title struggle with Fury can’t be made.
Tyson Fury (high) after his profitable title defence in opposition to Dillian Whyte
(Getty Images)
Full card
Oleksandr Usyk (C) vs Anthony Joshua (heavyweight)
Filip Hrgovic vs Zhilei Zhang (heavyweight)
Callum Smith vs Mathieu Bauderlique (light-heavyweight)
Ben Whittaker vs Petar Nosic (light-heavyweight)
Ramla Ali vs Crystal Garcia Nova (ladies’s super-bantamweight)
Badou Jack vs Richard Rivera (cruiserweight)
Andrew Tabiti vs Tyrone Spong (heavyweight)
Daniel Lapinvs Jozef Jurko (light-heavyweight)
Ziyad Almaayouf vs Jose Alatorre (super-lightweight)
Source: www.impartial.co.uk
