Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 date as Tyson Fury rivals plan rematch
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Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 will now go ahead in July. The pair are due to rematch on July 23 in Saudi Arabia with Usyk having defeated Joshua last year.
Plans for the fight have been an ongoing discussion since September, when Usyk defeated Joshua comfortably via points in the first meeting, stripping Joshua of his three titles and pushing a heavyweight unification bout further into the horizon.
However, it looked like Usyk would be forced to pull out of the upcoming heavyweight clash, when he returned to his home country of Ukraine to join the fight against the invading Russia.
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Ukrainian men had been prevented from crossing the border, instead being required to sign-up to defend the country – and Usyk was one of many athletes to answer the call, alongside fellow boxers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko and Vasily Lomachenko. Now, Usyk has left Ukraine to resume his training.
Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk told Sky Sports earlier in April: “Within the next two weeks we expect to finalise details.”
The fight is now expected to take place on July 23 after Saudi Arabia readied a bid of £90million to host it. It was previously reported the second contest could be held once again in London, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium or Wembley.
Wembley played host to Tyson Fury’s successful heavyweight title defence against Dillian Whyte on Saturday. Fury secured a sixth-round stoppage against the Body Snatcher.
Joshua previously fought in Saudi Arabia in his rematch against Andy Ruiz, in which he comfortably defeated the Mexican boxer, avenging his only loss at the time. He will look to do the same against Usyk in June, should the fight proposal be made official.