JOSH BOSH
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk rematch ‘on the brink’ of being announced as August 20 date is targeted
ANTHONY JOSHUA's high-stakes rematch with Oleksandr Usyk is "on the brink" of being announced.
AJ's Saudi showdown with the undefeated Ukrainian was initially slated for July 23 but has been delayed until August due to broadcasting rights issues.
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Promoter Eddie Hearn has been working hard to iron out the fine details of the deal - as well as a whistle-stop world tour - and expects to announce the desert dust-up in the coming days.
The Matchroom Boxing chief told : “We’re right on the brink now of signing all the paperwork. It [July 23] is only seven weeks away. It is a big job.
“They want to do multi-city, international press tours. There’s TV rights to discuss, there’s sponsorship to discuss.
“It is likely you will see a two or three-week delay for that fight to land in August. The fight will happen.
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"I’m very confident you will get an official announcement next week. It has been a long task, as it always is to sign these big fights.”
Joshua, 32, lost his grip on the WBA, IBF and IBO heavyweight titles in his first meeting with the undefeated Usyk last September, who boxed his way to a lopsided points victory in their Tottenham tussle.
The Watford warrior has enlisted the services of world champion coach Robert Garcia for the summer showdown.
And Hearn believes the addition of Garcia will lead to Joshua brutally exacting revenge on the slick southpaw.
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Hearn said: “I believe Joshua wins this fight via knockout inside six rounds. It’s a big call.
“But the frame of mind that he’s in, he’s brought Robert Garcia into camp as his new trainer, he looks tremendous.
“The problem with fighting Usyk is everything you hear around it… ‘Oh, I hear he does this, I wonder what it’s like to be in the ring with him’.
“When you’ve done rounds with him, it’s still very difficult, but I think AJ’s experience will help him.
“He will be an underdog going into the fight, great. I think he can do it. I hope everyone’s behind him.
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“Hopefully he’ll become three-time world champion and finally set up that massive undisputed fight with Tyson Fury.”
A venue for Usyk vs Joshua 2 hasn't been officially announced, although it's understood that the Super Dome in Jeddah is the frontrunner to land the fight.
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