IT’S been a long wait – but Anthony Joshua is finally back in the ring on Saturday.
Pumped-up AJ returns to a full house at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, taking on feared Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk in a potential classic in the capital.
Usyk and his team have touched down in the UK and the countdown is well and truly on to Saturday’s showdown.
- Press conference: Thursday, September 23 @ 1pm
- Weigh in: Friday, September 24 @ 2.30pm
- Fight date: Saturday, September 25
- UK start time: Estimated to be around 10.30pm
Follow ALL the latest build-up and updates with our live blog below…
BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
ONE HOUR WARNING
Press conferences for Saturday’s undercard are set to get underway at 1pm.
And then at 2pm there will be a press conference for the main event featuring Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk.
The press conference is being held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the same venue for Saturday’s fight.
HEARN CONCLUSION
And Hearn finished by telling talkSPORT: “Now, you hope that the size of those fighting him in the heavyweight division could be a difference.
“I don’t think you can just rely on size here, I think you need to rely on your feet, on your speed, and of course your power.
“That’s going to be key for AJ; putting dents in Usyk. I don’t want to see six or seven rounds down and the scorecards are tight or he is a couple behind and he is chasing the fight.
“You don’t want to be chasing the fight against the likes of Oleksandr Usyk. He’s got to show him the power, but he has got to catch him first. It’s going to be a really tough one.”
MORE FROM HEARN
Hearn went on to tell talkSPORT: “Technically, I wouldn’t say he [Usyk] is superior, because I think AJ wants to show that he is the superior boxer in this fight.
“But when you look at his achievements and what he did in the cruiserweight division to become undisputed, and look at the way that he did it, he went to Huck’s backyard to beat him in Germany.
“He went to Gassiev’s backyard in Russia to beat him and his went to Breidis’ backyard in Latvia to beat him.
“He also went to Manchester to bat Tony Bellew. Now he is coming to London to fight Anthony Joshua.
“So you’ve got to respect this guy; he’s comfortable on his bike and that’s the key really. In the cruiserweight division, he was unbeatable.”
HEARN NERVES
Promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed he is nervous as AJ puts his WBA, WBO and IBF belts on the line against Oleksandr Usyk.
He told talkSPORT: “There’s excitement, but there are also a huge amount of nerves just because of how good Usyk is.
“The scary thing about Usyk is not necessarily the size or how violent he is, it’s his mind.
“You know that he is going to be ready for Saturday night and it is just going to come down to who is good enough on the night, and that is the beauty of sport.
“This is a brilliant, brilliant heavyweight fight; the atmosphere is going to be unbelievable, it is going to be an incredible spectacle, I’m nervous, I’m excited, two great competitors and it is just going to come down to who is the better man on the night.”
ANYONE’S GAME
IBF featherweight champion Kid Galahad is predicting a ’50/50 fight’ between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk.
He said: “It’s a 50/50 fight. Usyk has done everything Joshua has done. He’s won a gold medal, he’s unified the division, he’s done everything. What’s he not done?
“Usyk’s got some of the best footwork in the business. He’s not a huge puncher but Mohammed Ali wasn’t a huge puncher and still knocked people out.
“The pressure he brings, it’s mental. AJ is switched on, He knows it’s not going to be an easy fight, but everyone else thinks it is.
“It’s one of those fights where we just don’t really know how it’s going to go.
“I think it could be a close call and AJ on points but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s an upset, that’s how close this fight is going to be.”
HEAR ME OUT
Eddie Hearn has declared Oleksandr Usyk will ‘never be a fully-fledged heavyweight’ despite him packing on the pounds to face Anthony Joshua.
He told talkSPORT: “I think that Usyk will never be a fully-fledged heavyweight – a real heavyweight in terms of size.
“But what he will always have is a huge amount of skill.
“It takes time for people to bed into heavyweight, so put it this way, it would’ve been a lot easier fight for AJ a year-and-a-half ago.
“Now Usyk has fought a real heavyweight contender in Chisora, that will actually help him to start to understand what needs to be done.
“But AJ’s a different kind of beast. A good big guy will always beat a good small guy, so we’ll see.”
FINAL FACE-OFF
Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk will face off for the final time today ahead of the pair’s heavyweight bout on Saturday.
They will both be speaking at a live press conference looking ahead to the epic clash.
That will be coming live from 1pm.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk held a media work out on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s bout.
And the Ukrainian challenger played up the cameras by showing off his juggling skills.
WEIGHT AND SEE
Hafthor Bjornsson has backed Anthony Joshua to be ‘too big’ for Oleksandr Usyk – despite the challenger’s best efforts to beef up.
The former world’s strongest man told SunSport: “Absolutely, I will be watching 100 per cent. I think Joshua will be a bit too big for Usyk.
“Usyk is a great boxer, but there is a height difference and a weight difference. I think that Usyk is gaining some weight now.
“So I don’t know how that will affect his performance, he won’t be used to being that heavy. We don’t know how he’ll react to that.
“Whether it will make him a bit more stiff or what but my money is on Joshua. He’s more comfortable in that weight category.”
MORE FROM HEARN
What makes Saturday’s fight so dangerous for AJ is the fact that Usyk is an unknown quantity.
He’s a cruiserweight world champion, but is yet to really be tested at heavyweight.
And Hearn said: “Usyk has boxed Witherspoon and then Chisora. People are saying, ‘Has he got it, has he not?’ Maybe now he does! I hope he doesn’t but he might do.
“It’s a great battle of minds as well. One thing that’s so scary about Usyk – is his mind and his ability to work out an opponent, and to out-think them.
“AJ wants to show his skill in this fight, as well as his brutality. I just hope we see a little bit more of the brutality.”
EDDIE’S ANALYSIS
AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn has labelled Oleksandr Usyk as ‘maybe the No 1 heavyweight in the world’ ahead of Saturday’s bout, but claims Joshua was never and is never scared of the challenge.
Hearn told Sky Sports: “He has to beat Oleksandr Usyk to keep the undisputed dream alive and he wasn’t prepared to swerve the challenge of Oleksandr Usyk, he’s not that kind of guy.
“[Usyk is] definitely, a top-five heavyweight in the world. Maybe the No 1 heavyweight in the world – this is the scary thing.
“You go back to great cruiserweights in the world that have gone up to heavyweight.
“You talk about Evander Holyfield. It took him a couple of fights for people to recognise him as a true threat to the division.
SATURDAY’S STAGE
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be the venue for Saturday’s clash between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk.
And speaking on the occasion when the fight was announced in July, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said: “This is a huge occasion for Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – Anthony Joshua is an icon in the world of sport and to have him fight here in London N17, against a top opponent in Oleksandr Usyk, will be amazing for the area of Tottenham.
“This event will once again showcase the stadium’s ability to take the hosting of world-class sporting occasions to the next level – we cannot wait for September 25.”
PARKER PREVIEWS
Heavyweight boxer and past AJ opponent Joseph Parker is predicting a stoppage on Saturday night.
He said: “I feel like Usyk is going to be a big threat. Just with his background, but he was the unified champion of the world and he hasn’t experienced a loss.
“Leading into this fight, he’s going to have the best preparation and do everything right. Both guys are going to do everything right. I just feel with Joshua’s size, reach and power, he might get the better of Usyk.
“A lot of people are calling it a 50/50 fight, and people won’t be surprised if Usyk wins the fight. I think there’s a stoppage, I just don’t know who. I’m leaning towards Joshua.”
SHAWN SPEAKS
Former IBF and WBC welterweight champion Shawn Porter believes Oleksandr Usyk has a ‘100% chance’ of being able to beat Anthony Joshua.
Porter beat Usyk when the pair fought as amateurs, so the American knows just how good he is.
And he said: “I’m not messing with Usyk. I’m happy to see him doing everything that he’s done to this point. There’s a 100% chance for him to win this fight.
“I don’t know who is going to win this fight. I haven’t picked either-or.
“I’m just going to sit back and let it happen more so than having an expectation and the expectation not being met or me more or less wanting one of the fighters.
“I think it’s going to be a great one. If anything, if he [Usyk] wins that, people will say, ‘Once upon a time, Shawn Porter beat him.’ That’s about it, but those were old times.”
WARREN’S WORDS
Tyson Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, has backed Oleksandr Usyk to beat Anthony Joshua – but only if the fight goes 12 rounds.
“[Usyk] proved it at cruiserweight. He was fantastic, and he’s made his mark in that weight division.
“He was a superb cruiserweight. He’s done everything you could ask for.
“Anthony Joshua must be the favourite for the fight. He’s the bigger guy, much bigger, and he’s a big puncher.
“Having said that, 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.”
‘HUGE STAR’
Oleksandr Usyk hailed Anthony Joshua for being ‘a modern-day Mike Tyson’ ahead of their world heavyweight champion battle on Saturday.
He told told Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube Channel: “He’s (Joshua) a really big huge star. Everybody knows him – all the world around knows him just like in the old days Tyson was, right now he is.
“Even my kids were asking me today ‘did you already see Joshua? Have you seen him?’
“I never thought ever in my life, the kid from a small town in Ukraine would ever fight in an arena with 65,000 people and broadcasting all around the world on the biggest TV networks.”
LAST TEN
Here’s a look at who the ‘Big Three’ of heavyweight boxing have faced in their last ten bouts.
Should AJ and Tyson Fury come through clashes against Oleksandr Usyk and Deontay Wilder respectively, the pair are expected to face off in a hugely anticipated battle of the Brits.
AJ UNDERCARD
Here’s a reminder of who features on the undercard at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday before the main event gets underway.
- Lawrence Okolie vs Dilan Prasovic – For WBO cruiserweight title
- Callum Smith vs Lenin Castillo
- Campbell Hatton vs Izan Dura
- Florian Marku vs Maxim Prodan
- Christopher Ousley vs Khasan Baysangurov
- Daniel Lapin vs Pawel Martyniuk
BEST TEST
Anthony Joshua has called for people to ‘give credit’ where it’s due to Oleksandr Usyk.
The Ukrainian is undefeated in 18 professional fights and to many, including AJ himself, is regarded as the toughest test the Brit has faced.
Joshua said: “He’s good. Let’s give credit where credit is due.
“In boxing, we do have big egos and we try to suppress people but let’s lift him up and say he is good.
“He won the [2012 heavyweight gold medal at the] Olympics.
“He won the world championship as an amateur. He’s done the undisputed thing. His accolades would say he’s one of the best I am fighting in my career.”
GOOD MORNING BOXING FANS
Tyson Fury will be cheering on Anthony Joshua when the three-title heavyweight champ takes on Oleksandr Usyk.
A victory for Joshua is likely to pave the way for a £200million super clash between the Gypsy King and the Londoner.
And SunSport’s Wally Downes Jr reports that Fury will be watching Joshua defend his three titles from his mansion in Las Vegas.
Fury said: “Do I want him to win? Definitely. Because it doesn’t make much sense in me beating Usyk up.
“I’d much prefer to beat Joshua up, it’s a bigger fight and people want to see it more.”
Oleksandr Usyk says he never imagined he would ever get the chance to be part of a major heavyweight fight night.
The Ukrainian, who will take on Joshua at Tottenham Stadium, told Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel: “I never thought ever in my life, the kid from a small town in Ukraine would ever fight in an arena with 65,000 people and broadcasting all around the world on the biggest TV networks.
“He’s (Joshua) a really big huge star. Everybody knows him – all the world around knows him just like in the old days (Mike) Tyson was, right now he is.
Meanwhile, Eddie Hearn reckons Joshua could put the ‘fear of Christ’ up Usyk when the pair meet.
And Dillian Whyte has tipped the Briton to win the bout inside the first seven rounds.
Whyte told 5 Live Boxing: “I think it’s a great fight, but in my personal opinion, I think Joshua will stop him in the first five, six, or seven rounds.”
FURY’S A FAN
Tyson Fury will be cheering on Anthony Joshua when steps into the ring with Oleksandr Usyk.
A victory for Joshua is likely to pave the way for a £200million super clash between the Gypsy King and the Londoner.
And SunSport’s Wally Downes Jr reports that Fury will be watching Joshua defend his three titles from his mansion in Las Vegas.
Fury said: “Do I want him to win? Definitely. Because it doesn’t make much sense in me beating Usyk up.
“I’d much prefer to beat Joshua up, it’s a bigger fight and people want to see it more.”
FURY FIGHT
Eddie Hearn says Anthony Joshua is eager to fight Tyson Fury and achieve his dream of becoming the undisputed heavyweight champ.
Plans for a clash between the two were put on ice after an arbitrator ordered Fury to fight Deontay Wilder.
Hearn told BBC Sports The Final Say: “I believe that Tyson Fury would fight Anthony Joshua. We know it’s the biggest financial fight in boxing.
“I know for a fact AJ would fight Tyson Fury. I would be shocked if both won their upcoming fights and we didn’t see that fight.”
DREAM FIGHT
Oleksandr Usyk says he never imagined he would have the chance to be part of a major heavyweight fight night.
The Ukrainian is set to step into the ring with Anthony Joshua at Tottenham Stadium in a bid to defeat the heavyweight champ.
Usyk told Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube Channel: “Every night I go to bed, I pray and then I go to sleep.
“I never thought ever in my life, the kid from a small town in Ukraine would ever fight in an arena with 65,000 people and broadcasting all around the world on the biggest TV networks.
“He’s (Joshua) a really big huge star. Everybody knows him – all the world around knows him just like in the old days (Mike) Tyson was, right now he is.
“Even my kids were asking me today ‘did you already see Joshua? Have you seen him?’
FURY FEELING
Tyson Fury says he has a ‘sneaky feeling’ Oleksandr Usyk could stun Anthony Joshua by defeating him.
The Gypsy King was sharing his thoughts with Frank Warren’s Queensbury Promotions ahead of his own heavyweight clash with Deontay Wilder.
Fury said: “What I’ve seen from Usyk in the last two fights hasn’t been a lot.
“Then I had a little brainstorm and maybe he’s not showing us everything he can do, just playing around with the likes of Chisora and the other guy he fought (Chazz Witherspoon).
“Maybe he didn’t try and win those fights properly. Maybe he was looking bad on purpose.”
FRIGHT NIGHT
Eddie Hearn reckons Anthony Joshua can put the ‘fear of Christ’ up Oleksandr Usyk when the rivals go toe-to-toe at Tottenham Stadium this weekend.
And Hearn reckons Joshua should look to emulate Derek Chisora during the clash.
Chisora piled pressure on the Ukrainian for 12 rounds at Wembley last year.
Hearn told talkSPORT: “Chisora puts the fear of Christ up anyone and he put the fear of Christ up Usyk in the first three rounds.
“He looked like he didn’t know what to do, but Joshua is not going to do that. Joshua is not just going to maraud forward and fight like Chisora did.
“But he has to do bits of what Chisora did in my opinion, which is use that size and ultimately put the pressure on and be the bigger man in there.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
