When and where is the Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk rematch?
The British heavyweight boxer lost his unified titles on a points decision last year and we’ve been awaiting the contracted second fight ever since.
When Oleksandr Usyk was handed the decision in 2021, his defeated opponent took no time to trigger the clause in the contract to set up a chance for revenge. And now we know when that moment will come, and where.
Anthony Joshua’s rematch with the Ukrainian will take place on 20 August 2022 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
It was previously expected that we would have seen this fight before the late summer date announced but then again we never knew what was going to transpire in the home of Usyk. When Vladimir Putin’s Russian army invaded their neighbours, Oleksandr spoke out against it then went to battle alongside his countrymen.
Joshua vs Usyk: Rage on the Red Sea
Both boxers have spoken out on the fight that is being promoted as the Rage on the Red Sea, as reported by the Mirror’s Ben Davies.
“I have a goal, with the help of the Lord I will complete my mission!” Usyk said, while Joshua had a few more words to give.
“What a roller coaster journey, fighting for the Heavyweight Championship of the World for the 12th consecutive time. 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.
“Fighting championship level back to back has had its pros and cons, but I decide every day to get stronger, to learn from my experiences and grow. A happy fighter is a dangerous fighter and I am the happiest and most motivated I have been.”
“A story of redemption”
Eddie Hearn, who is Joshua’s promoter, is a happy lad.
“We are thrilled to get one of the biggest Heavyweight rematches in boxing history made and give Anthony Joshua the chance to reclaim what he lost in London last September,” Hearn stated. “Everything is on the line for this Unified World Heavyweight Championship bout and it could not be a bigger contest.
“We know Oleksandr Usyk is a great fighter and we saw that last time out, but I know Anthony Joshua is more determined than ever. It was a huge success to host Anthony Joshua’s contest with Andy Ruiz Jr. in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2019 and we are looking forward to working with the country again to stage this historic event. So, no doubt all eyes of the world will be on the ring come Saturday August 20. This is a story of redemption, and the countdown starts now.”