Usyk to face Joshua in Saudi Arabia
Unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk will face Briton Anthony Joshua in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on August 20 in a rematch of their London bout last year, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable announced.
Usyk beat Joshua in front of a sell-out crowd in September last year to claim the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts but the 32-year-old will have a chance to win back his belts in a fight dubbed “Rage on the Red Sea.”
Usyk was in Ukraine helping the war effort against Russia and earlier in the summer it appeared the rematch would have to be postponed.
But the Ukrainian was given permission to leave the country in March to train for his second fight with Joshua.
“I have a goal, with the help of the Lord I will complete my mission,” said Usyk.
Joshua called the fight “my date with history” as he has the chance to become a three-time unified heavyweight world champion, adding: “A happy fighter is a dangerous fighter and I am the happiest and most motivated I have been.”