Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua II | DAZN - August 20, 2022

[punchoutsb]

Usyk takes a wide UD

[margaret thatcher]

Former Two Division Boxing World Champion and Global Philanthropist Badou Jack

wtf

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

Former Two Division Boxing World Champion and Global Philanthropist Badou Jack

wtf

Also, didn’t he only hold the ‘regular’ WBA light heavyweight title? So he’s only a one weight world champion ain’t he? Unless I’m missing a title reign?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release | Filip Hrgovic vs. Zhilei Zhang IBF Eliminator Set

First details of the supporting cast to the unified heavyweight world title rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua have now been confirmed. The rivals will lock horns again in the coastal city of Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Saturday August 20.

Avoided Croatian Heavyweight star Filip Hrgovic (14-0, 12 KOs) meets China’s undefeated Zhilei Zhang (24-0-1, 19 KOs) in a Final Eliminator for the IBF Heavyweight World Title. The rivals were originally set to clash on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol in May but will now do battle on the Red Sea.

Hrgovic sits at No.3 in the IBF rankings and the big-hitting giant has been hunting a dance partner for a showdown to name the mandatory challenger for the title held by Ukraine’s Usyk. The 30-year-old Olympic bronze medallist has cut a lethal swathe through the pro ranks to sit in a prime position for a deserved shot at the big prize, ending all but two of his fights inside the distance, and not going past the fifth round in his last seven outings.

A host of Heavyweights were offered the clash with ‘El Animal’, but not until it came to No.15 ranked Zhang was a dance partner found, with the lofty Chinese star accepting the challenge. The 39-year-old has been circling for a major showdown, and ‘Big Bang’ gets his wish against Hrgovic with the two KO artist promising to leave it all in the ring with the stakes so high.

Wasserman’s Head of Global Boxing, Kalle Sauerland, said, “Filip’s opportunity to fight for a belt has always been an inevitability. If not for a personal loss in his life, he would already be confirmed as next in line to go on and begin ruling this heavyweight division.”

“The cream always rises to the top, and if you look at the targeted opponents who didn’t want to step into the ring with an animal like Hrgovic, there’s plenty of people who obviously agree that’s the level he belongs at,” he said.

“Zhang was man enough to step up in the end, but whether it would have been Zhang, or any other heavyweight within the top 15 of this division, the outcome will always be the same. AJ and Oleksandr have a big fight ahead of them, but make no mistake that their toughest fight is yet to come.”

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[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Undercard Press Release

Details of the supporting cast to the unified heavyweight title rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua have now been confirmed, at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena in the coastal city of Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Saturday August 20.

As reported earlier on BS.com, it was announced that Croatian heavyweight star Filip Hrgovic (14-0, 12 KOs) meets China’s undefeated Zhilei Zhang (24-0-1, 19 KOs) in a final eliminator for the IBF heavyweight world title. The rivals were originally set to clash on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol in May but will now do battle on the Red Sea.

Also on the card, Liverpool’s Callum Smith (28-1, 20 KOs) returns to the scene of his finest moment where he stopped British rival George Groves in seven rounds at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena in September 2018 to be crowned the WBA Super-Middleweight World Champion and the winner of the World Boxing Super Series Muhammad Ali Trophy.

Now campaigning at Light-Heavyweight where he is ranked as the No.1 contender with the WBC, ‘Mundo’ will face France’s reigning European Champion and No.2 ranked WBC 175lbs contender Mathieu Bauderlique (21-1, 12 KOs) in a final eliminator for the world title currently held by Artur Beterbiev.

Smith was last in action on the undercard of the first meeting between Usyk and Joshua at the home of Tottenham Hotspur in September, destroying Lenin Castillo with a brutal second round KO to return to winning ways after his points loss to Mexican superstar Canelo. Bauderlique last stepped through the ropes in September when he retired Igor Mikhalkin in seven rounds to land the vacant EBU crown.

“The last time I was in Jeddah I was crowned the best super middleweight in the world, so I have fond memories of the place," said Smith.

"The whole experience was great, and the fans really got behind me, so I’m really looking forward to returning next month. I won’t come away this time as a world champion, but this is a tough fight on a great card and one which should set up a challenge at the number 1 in the light heavyweight division.”

In a huge moment for women’s boxing, Somali-British prospect Ramla Ali (6-0, 1 KO) becomes the first female boxer to feature in an official international event in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, clashing with Crystal Garcia Nova (10-2, 10 KOs) in an eight-round super bantamweight contest. Former two-weight World Champion Badou Jack (26-3-3) fights Richard Rivera (21-0, 16 KOs) in a ten round cruiserweight contest. Andrew Tabiti (19-1, 15 KOs) and Tyrone Spong (14-0, 13 KOs) collide in an eight round heavyweight contest. There’s also action for Ukrainian light heavyweight Daniel Lapin (5-0) as he continues his education in the paid code against Slovakia's Jozef Jurko (9-6-1, 6 KOs) and super lightweight prospect Ziyad Almaayouf faces Mexico's Jose Alatorre (0-1).

[Nightmare Roy]

Still no UK broadcaster? and it's in 3 weeks time. Don't be surprised if one of them picks up an injury.

[KiwiRider]

Still no UK broadcaster? and it's in 3 weeks time. Don't be surprised if one of them picks up an injury.

Aww come on man!
Don't say that.
Sure, it isn't as suspenseful as the first fight, and the undercard is going to be maybe OK... Actually I don't have much positive to say about it
As far as I know Sky Sports Box Office will be showing it in NZ and Oz, so it should be the same in the UK?

[Nightmare Roy]

Still no UK broadcaster? and it's in 3 weeks time. Don't be surprised if one of them picks up an injury.

Aww come on man!
Don't say that.
Sure, it isn't as suspenseful as the first fight, and the undercard is going to be maybe OK... Actually I don't have much positive to say about it
As far as I know Sky Sports Box Office will be showing it in NZ and Oz, so it should be the same in the UK?

They haven't announced it yet with only 3 weeks to go, so something is going on

[Bandog]

I read an article saying the plan is for AJ to out-hustle Usyk? I can't see that happening. If he tries to run like he did with Ruiz II I think he will gas out, but who knows. Maybe it is a smart strategy? Usyk boxes circles around him in close, so much better footwork. I also think Usyk's power is under-rated, since he has bulked up for heavyweight.

[KiwiRider]

I read an article saying the plan is for AJ to out-hustle Usyk? I can't see that happening. If he tries to run like he did with Ruiz II I think he will gas out, but who knows. Maybe it is a smart strategy? Usyk boxes circles around him in close, so much better footwork. I also think Usyk's power is under-rated, since he has bulked up for heavyweight.

Our illustrious forum consensus seems to be that Joshua goes hard and tries to bang him out. Uysk is a slow starter, and most don't see AJ out boxing Uysk.

[Ruthless-RKO]

UK has a broadcaster

[Ruthless-RKO]

[funso banjo baby]

Seeing how dull AJ had to be to decision Ruiz I think this will be another snore fest

I will not be giving a single penny to this show

Embarrassing stuff

[HomicideHenry]

They make these matches so far away that it's ridiculous. If you're a champion level boxer you should always be in shape all the time and should be able to do matches every two or three months.

Anyways, unless Joshua is able to catch the Ukrainian in the first four rounds it's going to be Usyk again and probably catch Joshua in the middle rounds because the bodybuilder will be gassing wasting all those power shots.

[Thomastearns]

By August 20 we'll all be so desperate for a decent fight that we won't have any choice but to watch it any way we can.

It's a pity that boxing thinks it's a good idea to take a lull during the summer months.

Especially when we already know that it's biggest star is going to seek to exploit the 2 big Mexican paydays/holidays in May and Sept.

That's been more or less set in stone ever since the Mayweather cabal figured that one out.

[Perkin Warbeck]

This is an excellent boxing event.

Many PPVs in recent times have had very poor undercards. But his one has several quality matchups:

Zhang-Hrgovic
Spong-Tabiti
Smith-Bauderlique
Jack-Rivera

Solid PPV card

I'm not interested in the womens' fight, but hopefully it won't be included as part of the PPV telecast.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Usyk To Give Big Fight Gift To The Ukrainian People As Rematch With Joshua Will Be On Free TV

In an admirable move from two sides, it has been reported how the people of Ukraine will be able to watch the August 20 rematch between their hero (in more ways than one) Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua on free television. Usyk’s promoter Aleksandr Krassyuk spoke with TALK sport, and he explained how Usyk tried to buy the TV rights to the fight in Ukraine, this from the Saudis who organised the fight, so he could show the rematch on his YouTube channel for free.

But the Saudis refused to take any money and they gave Usyk the TV rights and now, in the middle of the Russian conflict as they are, the Ukrainian people will be able to cheer Usyk on free of charge. Again, an admirable move from both Usyk and the Saudis.

“He intended to buy (the TV rights), but received it [free] for Ukraine,” Krassyuk said of his fighter who holds the WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight titles. “He makes it free to watch via Megogo [streaming service], his YouTube channel, and via state public TV Suspilne.”

[jamesmcdonnell]

Aj's best chance is to fight ugly, in close and dirty, rough him up, but it's not really his style.

Obviously he can win, but I find it hard to see what stragegy enables him to beat Usyk.

Maybe just go all out early doors, no feeling out and try and catch Usyk cold.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Aj's best chance is to fight ugly, in close and dirty, rough him up, but it's not really his style.

That's what Haye said.

[jamesmcdonnell]

What, that it wasn't really his style?

The thing is Joshua can fight in close, but he tends to do it when he's going for the finish, he prefers to throw shots at medium and long range really, and fighting like that will also leave him vulnerable to counters as he's not great defensively.

[Ruthless-RKO]

What, that it wasn't really his style?

The thing is Joshua can fight in close, but he tends to do it when he's going for the finish, he prefers to throw shots at medium and long range really, and fighting like that will also leave him vulnerable to counters as he's not great defensively.

No, that he needs to make it a dog fight.

[jamesmcdonnell]

What, that it wasn't really his style?

The thing is Joshua can fight in close, but he tends to do it when he's going for the finish, he prefers to throw shots at medium and long range really, and fighting like that will also leave him vulnerable to counters as he's not great defensively.

No, that he needs to make it a dog fight.

Yeah, I agree in principle, but I don't think it's a strategy that really suits Joshua and I don't think Usyk will play ball, he is pretty light on his feet and I can see Joshua being made to look very silly.

I think that Usyk probably has the answer for whatever Joshua tries, he's smarter, has better skills and is more able to adapt.

He could do worse that look at Foreman's early career, and how he used to cut the ring off.

[Thomastearns]

He could do worse that look at Foreman's early career, and how he used to cut the ring off.




He could, but the young Foreman was noticeably quicker than the one that flattened Frazier and Norton.

Getting the correct balance between speed and power will maximize AJs chances.

On the other hand Usyk seems to be getting better at HW with each successive fight.

This is certainly not a foregone conclusion, but a lot will depend on AJs fight plan.

If he goes in for a tear up then he will also have to factor in stamina concerns just in case Usyk doesn't go down.

The worst thing to do would be to go in confused.