UK boxing icon Anthony Joshua’s massive heavyweight re-match against Oleksandr Usyk is fast approaching.
And a start time has been revealed for the huge fight.
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Joshua, 32, And his Ukrainian counterpart would fight in May and then in July, but there were several delays in the negotiations that pushed the fighting further back.
Russia’s war against Ukraine, where Usyk is from, also affected the arrangement of the rematch.
Usyk35, earlier this tear returned to his homeland to participate in the fight in the war against Russia, which began in February.
But he is now in training camp for the biggest fight of his life.
Usyk largely beat and outclassed a game Joshua in front of 70,000 fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last September to win the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO world titles.
However, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn told The Sun earlier this month that his client… ‘stunned’ by the tactics used last year, hinting at a game plan change for the rematch.
He said: “I spoke to him recently and I think he’s finally baffled why he was fighting so much.
“Even when he lost, for a long time he felt like he could still beat Usyk like that. But why if you don’t have to fight like that?
“He could fight in your old style and have a much better chance of beating him. Klitschko style, but Usyk is a great fighter, a great counterpunch.”
Hearn added that AJ needs to be “a lot more aggressive” this time around.
The two sides have spent months negotiating a money-grubbing deal for AJ’s second fight in Saudi Arabia after beating Ruiz Jr on points in the oil-rich country in December 2019.
Joshua will also have a new training team, with the experienced Robert Garcia leading his corner while Angel Fernandez plays second-in-command.
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When is Joshua vs Usyk 2?
- Joshua vs Usyk 2 takes place on Saturday, August 20.
- The fight will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- It will be late for viewers in the UK, with 10:54 pm revealed as the estimated start time.
AJ vs Usyk 2 date, live stream and TV channel for blockbuster rematch
What TV channel is it on and can I stream it live?
Can I listen to Joshua vs Usyk 2 on the radio?
Yes, that’s possible.
talkSPORT have the exclusive rights before the big fight and you can listen to it for FREE.
The station’s fight night team will include presenters Adam Catterall and Gareth A Davies, commentator Andy Clarke, sports broadcaster Ade Oladipo and former bantamweight boxer Spencer Oliver.
Joshua vs Usyk 2 FULL CARD
The full Joshua vs Usyk 2 undercard has finally been announced, and what a blast it’s going to be.
However, Callum Smith will compete in Jeddah, just as he did on the first Joshua vs Usyk undercard when he takes on Mathieu Bauderlique in a WBC light-heavyweight final eliminator.
As heavyweight star Filip Hrgovic takes on Zhilei Zhang in an IBF heavyweight title eliminator.
Badou Jack will also play against Richard Rivera.
- Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2
- Badou Jack vs Richard Rivera
- Callum Smith vs Mathieu Bauderlique (WBC Light-Heavyweight Finals Eliminator)
- Filip Hrgovic vs Zhilei Zhang (IBF heavyweight final eliminator)
- Tyron Spong vs Andrew Tabiti
- Daniel Lapin vs Jozef Jurko
- Ramla Ali vs. Crystal Garcia Nova
- Ziyad Almaayouf vs Hector Alatorre
Where will Joshua vs Usyk 2 take place?
The venue for Joshua vs Uysk 2 is the King Abdullah Sports City Arena, also known as the Shining Jewel.
The stadium can accommodate 62,000 seats for a football match, but more are expected to follow for Joshua vs Usyk 2.
Saudi Arabia has been a controversial host country, with the oil-rich country accused of sportswashing after spending huge sums to lure some of the world’s top golfers to their new LIV series.
However, Hearn has rejected such a comparison. He said: “He’s not worried about any backlash because he’s done it before.
“He’ll eventually go, ‘Eddie to you.’ I’m not going to pass the blame, but it’s very different when the deal is a 50/50 split. How can we go back to Usyk and say, ‘Let’s do it at Spurs’ because they’ll just say it’s a non-starter.”
What was said?
Both Joshua and Usyk met for the first time since their clash last year at the press conference in Saudi Arabia.
“The fight with Usyk, he destroyed me for a few rounds”, Joshua joked.
“And I have to take that defeat like a man, I have to answer for it.
“In the fight in September I was wrong and he was right. I just have to reverse that role in August.
“I don’t like to complicate the situation because there’s simplicity in genius. I’m just going to keep it simple.”
Usyk added: “As you all know we are not home in the best of circumstances at the moment.
“I never gave very loud and clear speeches, all I did was just work hard in my training camp, my gym, that’s what I’m going to do until the date of the fight.
“Then I’ll go in the ring and make you happy with my boxing.”
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Who is Robert Garcia?
Robert Garcia is Joshua’s new coach, with AJ splitting from longtime coach Rob McCracken after his loss to Usyk last September.
McCracken had led Joshua to Olympic gold in London 2012, taking his first world title in 2016 and regaining his titles in 2019.
But the tactics Joshua used in the defeat to Usyk were rife, so the Watford man looked for a new voice in the corner.
In steps Garcia, who has guided 14 different men to world titles during his legendary career as a trainer.
Fighters he has trained include former Four Division Champion and brother Mikey Garcia, Marcos Maidana, Jose Ramirez, Bam Rodriguez, Abner Mares, Nonito Donaire, Brandon Rios and Antonio Margarito.
The Mexican was also a fighter himself, winning the IBF world super featherweight title in 1998.
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But in 2001, after a knockout loss to Joel Casamyaor, Garcia retired at age 26 and decided to focus on training.
Known as an offensive Mexican forefoot trainer, Garcia will train the tactics many believe Joshua needs to defeat an elusive southpaw like Usyk.
The 47-year-old has said: “We’ll see who is the better man. We’re going to do everything we can to win those titles back.
“I know he can do it. He’s the bigger man, he’s the stronger man, he has the reach advantage, so we’re going to take advantage of that.”
“Come that day, I think without a doubt we will have a three-time world heavyweight champion.”