Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk LIVE REACTION: Rematch LATEST, AJ eye socket injury updates, champ Usyk flies home

SKY HIGH

AJ's fight on Sky Sports box office will set fans back £24.95.

And if it hits the magic 1,000,000 mark then that’s around £25million in the kitty that will be split between Joshua and Usyk.

And here's a look at how that potential figure compares to Joshua's previous Sky pay-days.

TALE OF THE TAPE

Here's a look at how the two fighters match up.

Who are you backing?

AJ CLARIFIES

Anthony Joshua has shed light on who he will be fighting next, with the result of his fight tonight and Tyson Fury's bout against Deontay Wilder determining his next opponent.

He said: "So, we both have important fights of our career, both 50-50 fights as well, which is really good for boxing at the end of the day.

"So, inevitably I’ve got a rematch clause if the worst happens. I’m not too sure what Fury’s situation is. So, if I lose, I’m fighting Usyk again, the undisputed [title fight] gets put on hold.

"If I win, I’ll fight either one of them. If Fury wins, I’ll fight Fury.

"If Wilder wins, I’ll fight Wilder.

"If Fury wins and doesn’t take the fight with me because – on his hit list, he said that he wants to fight, I think he said he wants to fight Dillian [Whyte] first or [Dereck] Chisora first, or something like that – then I’ll fight Wilder."

NOT LONG TO WAIT

There's just over eight hours to go now until the first bell sounds to signal the start of the main event at Tottenham Stadium.

Many fans, pundits and former professionals are predicting Oleksandr Usyk to be Anthony Joshua's toughest test to date.

And it may well could be.

Usyk is yet to be defeated in his 18 fights as a professional.

Although it is only the third time the Ukrainian has fought as a heavyweight after making the move up from cruiserweight.

PRE-FIGHT PREDICTIONS

Tyson Fury's promoter Frank Warren has backed Oleksandr Usyk to BEAT Anthony Joshua, if tonight's fight goes twelve rounds.

An Usyk win would effectively scupper plans for an all-British super-fight between Fury and Joshua.

And Warren told iFL TV: "If [Joshua] doesn’t get rid of him, and if he’s still there after five or six rounds, then if it gets to the end of the fight...

"If that goes 12 rounds, I would fancy Usyk to get the decision because to get there, he’s going to have to outbox him.

"And he's obviously a very smart operator, you know how he's going to fight - he's going to try and get inside and underneath AJ's jab.

"If you can do that, you can give him a lot of problems. I hope he doesn't though, because we want the big fight."

RING WALK

With the first bell expected to sound, promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed what time fans will get a first glimpse of the fighters.

He said: "AJ's ringwalk will probably be around 10pm, that's reasonably early.

"And I believe the broadcast will start around 7pm. So that will be five fights and then Anthony Joshua"

If AJ is set to emerge at 10pm, expect Oleksandr Usyk to make his entrance around 5-10 minutes before that.

AJ ADVANTAGE

Anthony Joshua towered over Oleksandr Usyk at yesterday's weigh-in.

AJ boasts a three-inch height advantage over the former cruiserweight, and is a mammoth 19lbs heavier.

The defending WBO, IBF, WBA and IBO champion also boasts a four-inch further reach than the Ukrainian.

NAP TIME

And Madden concluded by revealing just how important sleep is to AJ.

He told the Daily Mail: "For me, the biggest priority is his sleep. He’s getting in the ring, he’s got the media and all the spotlight, so to switch off in fight week must be a real challenge. 

"We ensure his room is well sound-proofed, with the best possible bedding, low temperatures and blackout blinds.

"We do everything we can to make his room a cold cave. That’s of massive importance.

"On the day of the fight, he will nap for two hours and caffeinate a few hours before he enters the ring to energise his system.

"Mind, body, nutrition and sleep. It’s like tyres on a car. They all have to be inflated."

FOOD FOCUS

Madden went on to tell the Mail: "The nutrition is on point, working with the chefs to make sure all the right nutrients are coming in to make his immune system robust.

"The food is also part of that joy and culture of being around him. It’s very relaxed.

"My realm is with the physical preparation. He is also very good at doing things independently.

"Before and after sessions he gets on the floor, does his foam rolling, rotations and yoga.";

HEAVY SLEEPER

Anthony Joshua's physio has revealed his training secrets ahead of Usyk clash, including two-hour naps, loading up on caffeine and a sound-proof bedroom.

Heavyweight champ Joshua, 31, has worked with physio Rob Madden since turning professional in 2013.

Madden told the Daily Mail: "There are four main pillars of Joshua’s performance.

"His boxing and mental preparation, nutrition, physical preparation and then sleep and recovery.

"Joshua has acclimatised to late training with Rob McCracken as that’s when he’s sharp and charged, so he goes to bed at 1am and naps in the day."

STADIUM STAR

Tonight's bout will be the SIXTH time Anthony Joshua has fought in a stadium.

And it will be his fifth stadium main event.

Previous stadium fights include Carlos Takam and Joseph Parker at the Principality in Wales.

And Wembley has been the venue for three of AJ's fights in his career so far.

He first fought there in 2014 against Matt Legg in just his sixth professional bout, before also beating Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin at England's football HQ.

Tonight is his first fight at Tottenham Stadium, and also the first time a boxing card has been held there.

ONE EYE ON FURY WILDER

There's another mammoth heavyweight bout to enjoy in just two week's time as Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder go head to head in an epic trilogy fight.

And Fury has vowed to end his opponent's career.

He told Volume Sports: "I'd hate to be Deontay Wilder right now.

"When I put that final nail in his coffin, it's retirement - bye bye b**** Wilder.

"He used to be a gladiator. He met the old, fat 'Gypsy King' - knocked him spark out in seven rounds."

ON THE MONEY

Anthony Joshua could bank a massive £30million for Saturday night’s defence against Oleksandr Usyk.

The standard gate alone from the 60,000 tickets could be as much as £15million.

And that is without totting up the 80 VIP hospitality boxes in the stadium that go for around £10,000 a pop and could coin in an extra £800,000.

Then the Sky Sports Box Office Show is priced at £24.95 and if it hits the magic 1,000,000 mark then that’s around another £25million in the kitty.

That equates to a conservative sum of around £40million.

AJ will take home the lion’s share, but it could still leave Usyk with a handsome £10m payday.

DID YOU KNOW

Tonight’s bout is only the second time in history that Olympic Gold medallists from the heavyweight and super heavyweight divisions have met in the pro ranks.

Usyk won gold in the heavyweight division at London 2012, while AJ also scooped gold at his home games competing at super-heavyweight.

The only ever time it has happened before was Ray Mercer’s fight against Lennox Lewis in 1996.

Mercer had won heavyweight gold at Seoul 1988, with Lewis taking home super-heavyweight gold at the same games.

LONG TIME COMING

Anthony Joshua thought up a plan to beat tonight's opponent Oleksandr Usyk THREE YEARS ago.

AJ labelled Usyk as the 'perfect boxer' but still offered Tony Bellew advice on how to beat him before the Merseyside fighter took on the Ukrainian.

The Watford-born fighter claimed that counter-punching was the key to success.

He told Sky Sports in November 2018: "From an entertaining point of view, Usyk is like a perfect boxer, so I hope Bellew is working on his counter-punches as well, because that's the way to knock him out - let him tippy-tap and then explode."

The advice didn't make a difference however, with Usyk forcing a stoppage against the Merseyside fighter in the eighth round.

UNDERCARD

But before the main event tonight there's a stacked undercard to keep boxing fans entertained all night long.

Ricky Hatton's son Campbell is in super featherweight action, while Lawrence Okolie defends his WBO cruiserweight title.

• Lawrence Okolie v Dilan Prasovic – WBO Cruiserweight Title
• Callum Smith v Lenin Castillo – Light-Heavyweight
• Campbell Hatton v Izan Dura – Super-Featherweight
• Florian Marku v Maxim Prodan – Welterweight
• Christopher Ousley v Khasan Baysangurov – Middleweight

WHAT'S AT STAKE

AJ defends his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles this evening.

The only belt missing from his impressive collection is the WBC belt, held by rival Tyson Fury.

And if Joshua comes out on top tonight his next goal will be to unify the division in a fight for the ages against The Gypsy King.

But that also depends on the outcome of Fury's fight against Deontay Wilder on October 9.

DING DING DING!

Today is the day fight fans.

Tonight at Tottenham Stadium, Anthony Joshua defends his heavyweight world titles against cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk.

The ring walk is expected at around 10pm after a full undercard of British talent, with the first bell set to ring at 10.12pm EXACTLY.

Joshua hit the scales at the same 17st 2lbs (240lbs) he battered Kubrat Pulev at in December.

And Usyk, 34, reached his career highest of 15st 8lbs (221lbs) leaving 19lbs between them.