Image copyright: Getty Images
WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles
Oleksandr Usyk v Anthony Joshua
Professional Boxing Match
King Abdullah Sports City
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Saturday, 20 August 2022
Oleksandr Usyk will defend his world
heavyweight titles for the first time when he faces Anthony Joshua in a rematch at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, August 20.
The fight, which has been billed as Rage on the Red Sea, sees two-time former unified heavyweight champion Joshua look to reclaim the belts he lost to Usyk in September 2021.
The Ukrainian won that match in 12 rounds via unanimous decision at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England to become only the second boxer ever, after Evander Holyfield, to win unified cruiserweight and heavyweight world titles.
The Ring heavyweight title will also be up for grabs after it was vacated by Tyson Fury on August 13.
Usyk has spent much of this year defending his country against Russia, who invaded Ukraine on February 24. The 35-year-old revealed that he lost 4.5 kilograms in the first month of the war but has bulked up his physique considerably in preparation for this fight.
"In the first month of the war I lost 10 pounds," Usyk told the Guardian. "But when I started preparing for this fight I quickly gained the weight and my team put in all this incredible work to strengthen my body.
"I don't want to say a lot about the weight but the main thing is I feel incredibly fit and strong. You can see it in the gym but I am really going to prove this in the ring."
Image copyright: Getty Images
Joshua intends to bring far more aggression on this occasion in a bid to wrestle the titles back from Usyk, who inflicted only the second defeat of his professional career last time out.
"I wanted to outbox my opponent, whether it was Usyk or anyone else, that was the mindset [in the first fight]. I wanted to outbox my opponent and on Saturday I want to smash my opponent," the Brit told Sky Sports News.
"[That aggressiveness] It's never really been lost. The path is always there. It's not like I'm trying to rediscover a path. I always understand where that is. I just tried to be more elusive and add more strings to my bow.
"I was focusing more on different things in my career, for example having a better jab, hitting and not getting hit.
"You've got to focus on that aggressive aspect, that competitive spirit and at the end of the day, I don't give a damn about your jab, I don't care how good that jab is, I don't care how good this is. I don't care how good you are - my competitive spirit will overcome all obstacles."
Professional Fight Records
Usyk: 19–0 (13 KOs)
Joshua: 24–2 (22 KOs)
Bet on boxing with Betway
We bring you the very best in boxing and you can now bet using your both mobile and desktop computer. Place your bets with ease and back your favourite boxers at a click of a button. Betway offers just what you want in the world of live betting on boxing. Roll with the punches and keep up with the action in the ring as we bring you competitive odds that’ll deliver the knockout punch. Bet on the big boxing matchups with Betway South Africa.
For all the latest sports news, betting tips and promotions follow Betway on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Download the Betway App.