Usyk outclassed Joshua in September last year in their first fight, beating the British boxer by unanimous decision and winning Joshua’s WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles.
Joshua’s camp activated the contractual rematch clause soon after, meaning the pair will once again take center stage in heavyweight boxing’s latest showpiece event.
Despite being arguably the biggest name in boxing, Joshua’s career has been punctuated with shocking results.
Saturday’s rematch will be the 32-year-old’s 12th straight heavyweight world title fight. He’s beaten many top boxers along the way – Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin to name a few.
But, among these big name victories – often breathtaking – there are surprise defeats. First, he was stunned by Andy Ruiz Jr. in New York in 2019 after being knocked down several times before the referee called a halt to the fight, ending his spell as unified heavyweight champion – he has beat Ruiz months later in Saudi Arabia to get that back. Title.
And in his first fight with Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist was completely outmatched by the Ukrainian from start to finish as Usyk left the English capital the unified heavyweight champion and with his reputation as one of the best boxers in the world. cemented.
However, Joshua said ahead of Saturday’s rematch that even if he lost, it wouldn’t be the end of his time in the ring.
“It’s also my 12th consecutive world title fight. I’ve been in 12 consecutive world title fights. It happens – if you fight world level people, you meet world level quality people. I don’t fight people who are below average.
“But at the end of the day, outside of all the learning stuff, it’s a fight. That’s all. Whoever throws the most punches and lands the most punches wins.”
fight for more
When Usyk steps into the ring on Saturday, he will have more than title belts and money as his inspiration.
After Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the 35-year-old returned to his homeland, taking up arms and joining a territorial defense battalion in Kyiv, spending weeks helping with the war effort.
In March however, Usyk was granted permission to return to training to prepare for Joshua’s fight, although he expressed reluctance.
“They were asking me to go there, to fight, to fight for the country, to fight for your pride and if you go there, you will even help more for our country.
“I know that a lot of my loved ones, friends, close friends, are right now on the front line and fighting. What I’m doing right now, I’m just supporting them, and with this fight I wanted to give them a kind of joy between what they do.”
And now, months later, a pumped-up Usyk looks in excellent shape and in excellent spirits – launching into a Ukrainian song of independence after a pre-fight press conference dressed in traditional Cossack attire.
On the eve of the fight, Usyk said competition at the highest level was what drove him, as well as hope and inspiration at home.
sports washing
Saturday’s fight card has been hailed as it will host Saudi Arabia’s first-ever women’s professional boxing match when Crystal Garcia Nova takes on Ramla Ali.
In a country where women’s rights are severely restricted, this was seen as a historic moment for women’s sport there.
Saudi Arabia has been accused of using sports washing in recent years to distract from the country’s dismal human rights record.
Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, was named in a US intelligence report as being responsible for approving the operation that led to the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, although he denied any involvement. Human rights groups have also criticized the country for carrying out mass executions and for its treatment of gay people.
He added: “The world is bad, I can’t point to one place. If you want to point the finger at Saudi Arabia, let’s point everyone out. We all have to do better, and that’s where my heart is. The whole world has to do better if it wants to change.”
