Boxing: Usyk-Joshua Rematch Set For August 20th
British boxer Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight rematch with Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine has been confirmed at the Jeddah Super Dome in Saudi Arabia on August 20.
Joshua, 32, is aiming to reclaim the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles after a unanimous decision loss to Usyk in their first fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London last September.
Since that defeat Joshua has revamped his training set up, bringing in American trainer Robert Garcia to join Angel Fernandez in his corner in a bid to avenge the second defeat of his professional career.
“What a roller coaster journey, fighting for the Heavyweight Championship of the World for the 12th consecutive time,” Joshua said after the rematch was confirmed.
“I won the belt, unified the division, won another belt, lost the belts, became two-time unified Heavyweight Champion and now have my date with history set to become three-time unified Heavyweight Champion of the World. What an opportunity.”
Usyk is recognised as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound best fighters, becoming undisputed world cruiserweight world champion in 2018 before claiming three heavyweight belts.
The 35-year-old, who joined Joshua as an Olympic gold medallist at London 2012, is yet to suffer a defeat in 19 professional fights.
CN/BBC.
