Everything is at stake in big fight, admits Joshua

ANTHONY Joshua accepts that his career is on the line when he faces Oleksandr Usyk in tonight’s world heavyweight title rematch in Jeddah, writes Duncan Bech.

A heavyweight fight delayed by Russia’s invasion of Usyk’s native Ukraine will see Joshua attempt to reclaim the WBA, IBF and WBO belts he lost to his rival on a passive night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium almost a year ago.

“Everything is at stake. It’s a big fight, it’s a big night,” Joshua told the PA news agency.

“The heavyweight championship of the world is on the line, so it’s big. It’s a must win, because I don’t want to walk away. Let’s get the job done.

“Being in this position makes you realise what this game is about. A lot of people get knocked down and the challenge is to bring themselves back up to where they were.”

■ TENNIS: Emma Raducanu’s impressive run at the Western and Southern Open ended in a 7-5, 6-4 defeat to Jessica Pegula.

The British tenth seed opened her campaign in Cincinnati with solid victories over Tour veterans Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka.

But the top-ranked American proved too tough a mountain for the defending US Open champion to climb, with the 19-year-old giving up 21 unforced errors in the loss.