Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua II | Sky Sports PPV - 20 August 2022

[maverick23]

I’m ok with the undercard. Nothing special but not Fury/Whyte levels of bad either. A few interesting fights. Now I just want to know where it’s being shown….

[Glass Joe]

I’m ok with the undercard. Nothing special but not Fury/Whyte levels of bad either. A few interesting fights. Now I just want to know where it’s being shown….

If all else fails i think i got Saudi Arabia on my stick.

[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).

[Bard of Boxrec]

Might have to assume the ‘boxing hipster’ pick of Usyk by stoppage for this one

[revporl]

The lack of a TV deal, or at least the announcement of one, is very weird.

[Ruthless-RKO]

At this rate just give it to BBC.

Happy days!!

[thenamesnevers]

It's odd. AJ does serious numbers. If Sky have the fight, they better get promoting. It's too late for DAZN to use this as their flagship fight to launch PPV and BT is never happening!

[Spud]

This has to be in my opinion of course, the very worst undercard for a PPV show ever.

I will not pay for it

[maverick23]

This has to be in my opinion of course, the very worst undercard for a PPV show ever.

I will not pay for it

Worse than Fury/Whyte?!

Worse than Khan/Brook?!

People have short memories when it comes to PPV undercards.

[Spud]

This has to be in my opinion of course, the very worst undercard for a PPV show ever.

I will not pay for it

Worse than Fury/Whyte?!

Worse than Khan/Brook?!

People have short memories when it comes to PPV undercards.

I accept your opinion but mine is with this fight being bought for millions by the Saudis meant I thought the millions would not only reflect a good main event but a fairly strong undercard too.

The undercard in my view is very weak indeed especially with rumours that if the tv rights are sold for further millions the undercard would be extremely strong.

The undercard is shockingly weak to the point its pathetic.

[garethhop]

The Smith fight is pretty good.

Rest is trash, just like Khan/Brook, just like most of Canelo's are, just like Fury's were. If the main event sells, then the approach seems to be to pay as little out as possible for the rest.

[garethhop]

Just confirmed by Sky to be on Sky Box Office.

[maverick23]

This has to be in my opinion of course, the very worst undercard for a PPV show ever.

I will not pay for it

Worse than Fury/Whyte?!

Worse than Khan/Brook?!

People have short memories when it comes to PPV undercards.

I accept your opinion but mine is with this fight being bought for millions by the Saudis meant I thought the millions would not only reflect a good main event but a fairly strong undercard too.

The undercard in my view is very weak indeed especially with rumours that if the tv rights are sold for further millions the undercard would be extremely strong.

The undercard is shockingly weak to the point its pathetic.

I get that people can be disappointed with it but I just disagree with the statement of ‘very worst undercard for a PPV show ever’ because I’ve seen loads that are worse.

Smith vs Bauderlique - a decent fight against the European champ (until he vacated yesterday) in a final eliminator.

Hrgovic vs Zhang - whilst I think Hrgovic should win comfortably I don’t think he’s looked good in his last few fights so may be more competitive. Another final eliminator.

Jack vs Rivera - no idea how good Rivera is or how much Jack has left. Don’t particularly care about it but it’s not an awful fight on paper.

Tabiti vs Spong - I’m weirdly looking forward to this. Could be a fun fight.

The rest is rubbish.

The Khan/Brook undercard highlights were a really poor world title fight for Natasha Jonas and an English title fight. The rest was mismatches.

The Fury/Whyte undercard highlights were the Ball/Lowe fight (which was around commonwealth level but a good fight) and Essuman/Tetley which was pretty poor. The rest was complete mismatches.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Finally

[Ruthless-RKO]

[maverick23]

Confirmed at £27.

[Spud]

I will NOT be paying £27 for that pile of sh*t

[tony1234]

£26.95 , no thanks. Cost of living crisis means for me and many others no doubt that my spending has to be selective and PPV's can go in the bin

[Ruthless-RKO]

Confirmed at £27.

What absolute thieving bastards.

You reckon Saudi had a say in the price or would it have been all Sky?

[maverick23]

Confirmed at £27.

What absolute thieving bastards.

You reckon Saudi had a say in the price or would it have been all Sky?

I’d imagine all Sky. When the proposals went to Saudi they may have had to list the price they’d sell it for though.

[Dioufy]

Won’t buy. Will try to stream. If I can’t, then I’ll listen on the radio.

[Boxerbeetle]

I’d probably not bother buying if it was just me, but reckon at least one of my mates will want to come over and watch it, in which case they’ll pick up the takeaway bill and I’ll pick up the PPV cost.

£27 during the current economic climate is a bit of a liberty though, hope it loses Sky a shitload of money.

[Glass Joe]

robbing sky, sky probably get more buys and make more at 24.99.

[garethhop]

Let's be clear. The money makers from this fight are the fighters and the promoter.

[Spud]

Radio for me.

Or even better the RBR on here.