Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk square off in a rematch on Saturday night.
Last year (2021), Joshua, a British boxer of Nigerian descent, was beaten by Usyk (Ukraine) over 12 rounds at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, United Kingdom (UK).
But they are meeting in Saudi Arabia tonight, a place ‘AJ’ reclaimed his world heavyweight titles versus Andy Ruiz Jr.
Newsbreak.ng breaks you all the latest pre-match information, as well the round-by-round updates from the bout.
Anthony Joshua vs Usyk 2
The main event is expected to start at 10.30 pm UK time, and the main card starts at 5 pm UK time.
Redemption for Anthony Joshua? 🤔
Olympic champion @LLPrice94 tells us her prediction for Usyk v Joshua II 🥊#BBCBoxing pic.twitter.com/XR4DemoHXs
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) August 20, 2022
Anthony Joshua faces unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in a must-win rematch.
Boxing pundit Steve Bunce told #BBCBreakfast who he believes will win this time round https://t.co/pqs0at2ivE pic.twitter.com/vgQQ2LZ964— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) August 20, 2022
Joshua vs Usyk: Nigerian fans upbeat
Anthony Joshua to win
— Olawale samuel (@Olawale41188358) August 20, 2022
4th round victory for AJ TKO
— Solomon Attah (@AttahUsa05) August 20, 2022
All the best AJ
— King Tofi (@Lodorks) August 20, 2022
Boxing legend, Evander Holyfield offers valuable advice to ‘AJ’
‘Joshua has to fight like a big guy!” 💪
Evander Holyfield on how Anthony Joshua can get revenge. ⏳ pic.twitter.com/lown13fiPF
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) August 20, 2022
Usyk vs Anthony Joshua to be decided by knockout, says SugarHill Steward
Tyson Fury’s trainer, SugarHill Steward, says the Usyk – Joshua bout will be decided by knockout.
Anthony Joshua arrives
🌟 𝐀𝐉 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐄 🌟
Anthony Joshua has arrived! ⏳ pic.twitter.com/BbXo5A0hr9
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) August 20, 2022
Usyk getting ready…
Oleksandr Usyk getting his hands wrapped backstage 🖐
Not long now… 🍿 pic.twitter.com/oknwbdSUuw
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) August 20, 2022
Joshua vs Usyk: Fight starts!
Round 1:
Joshua looks more conservative than usual
During the first minute of the fight, Joshua is looking far more conservative than he was during the first fight against Usyk. He is also ducking a little more when facing the Ukrainian fighter.
Round 2:
Lots of talk in AJ’s corner there, too much?
Usyk hovering in front, buzzing from side to side, with impeccable lateral movement. Joshua concentrates well and throws a jab.
Straight left from Usyk lands from range. Another. Joshua undeterred but yet to unload.
Usyk’s round again, but just at the bell, a right to the body, a crucial shot you’d think if AJ is to win this fight.
Round 3:
Joshua can build on that round you’d think. Usyk in a rhythm though.
Usyk with a combination up close for the first time.
Nice shoulder movement too, Joshua then grapples, working the body, but not for long, the Ukrainian slips away.
Joshua lunges with the uppercut. Narrowly misses. But then lands a right near the end of the round. Another Usyk round? It was close.
Round 4:
We are underway with Round 4 as Usyk is finally starting to get more aggressive than AJ. Joshua has his defense down perfectly, he is far more technical than the last time they fought.
Round 5:
Usyk finding his rhythm now and ratcheting up his output. Usyk landed a few sharp left hands and continues to avoid AJ’s body shots. Joshua needs to assert himself more and cut off the ring; he can’t win going backward.
Round 6:
Usyk also targeting the body then a right goes high and tags Joshua.
AJ with a wild left that misses. A mark above Joshua’s right eye, it’s swollen.
Joshua pushing out the jab, then a good right. Usyk then jumps up and maybe pushes his shoulder in?
Nice pressure from AJ with Usyk against the ropes.
But Usyk quickly resets and lands a combination.
Round 7:
Joshua applies pressure but doesn’t throw many punches behind it. Rather than cut off the ring he followed Usyk as the champ landed combos. Joshua needs to throw far more punches. Too many pawing shots.
Round 8:
It’s a pause in the action, the canvas needs to be cleaned. It’s too wet.
Usyk is happy with how things are going.
Joshua with some beautiful bodywork. Connected on a few sharp rights hand to the midsection before he unloaded to the body. Joshua needed this round badly.
Usyk starts fast, buzzing in and throwing hard and fast.
Left hand but Joshua takes it well, big power shots, Joshua again standing tall.
Did AJ anger him in that last round? This is the most spiteful Usyk has been in the rematch.
Big shot from Joshua! Usyk shaken. Massive shift in momentum.
Round 11:
Joshua has his moments with the body shots again, but Usyk far sharper. He was able to slide around AJ and connect to the head over and over. One round remaining.
Round 12:
Joshua had some of his best moments of the fight with a few power shots as he pressed for the KO, but the champ absorbed the shots and kept throwing with ferocity, out-hustling Joshua to close the fight strong. Close round.
Match ends!
Usyk beats Anthony Joshua by a split decision to retain the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles
Oof, well! Joshua was given that by 115-113 on one card but sanity prevails and Usyk gets it by margins of 116-112 and 115-113. Joshua is pretty emotional and quite angry at the end here. It’s a bit unseemly, and he has the ring in the middle of the ring. He’s swearing a lot, I think it’s coming from a good place though. He now asks for the crowd to salute Usyk. “I’m not a 12-round fighter, look at me!” Joshua says, before asking the crowd to give Usyk three cheers.
Thank you, and enjoy your day!
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