ANTHONY JOSHUA and Oleksandr Usyk are facing off TODAY when the pair weigh in before their massive heavyweight title rematch.
Last time out there was over a STONE between them – with AJ weighing 17st 2lbs to Usyk’s 15st 8lbs.
Though this time defending champ Usyk is expected to weigh considerably more, with Ukrainian hero looking to have bulked up for the sequel.
Stick with us here on SunSport as we bring you the latest updates from the weigh in and preview the huge main event this weekend.
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Deontay WIlder predicts
Wilder, who makes his big return to the ring on October 15, has made his prediction for tomorrow night.
Wilder, 36, told FightHype: “I’m going with Usyk in this fight. I’ve said that after that fight and I’m sticking with my word on this one.
“Usyk just looks more confident than ever now and when you look at Joshua he just looks like a different man.”
Joshua’s new trainer on Usyk
Anthony Joshua’s new trainer is the first to admit his man’s preparation has been far from perfect.
No-nonsense Robert Garcia replaced Team GB mastermind Robert McCracken for AJ’s must-win world heavyweight title rematch against Oleksandr Usyk tomorrow night.
Garcia said: “The whole boxing world knows he can’t outbox Usyk. So we have to put smart pressure on him.
“Usyk is a very talented fighter, his combinations, he has a great jab, a great straight-right hand, right hands to the body, stuff like that.
“Instead of training to box, we have to train for a fight going forward. But we are also not going in to become a brawler, we have to do it smart.”
Credit: PA Can I listen to Usyk vs AJ 2 on radio?
talkSPORT have the exclusive rights for the big fight and you can listen to it all for FREE.
The station’s Fight Night team will be made up of be presenters Adam Catterall and Gareth A Davies, commentator Andy Clarke, sports broadcaster Ade Oladipo and former bantamweight boxer Spencer Oliver.
How to watch Usyk vs Joshua 2?
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK, and DAZN in the rest of the world.
The event starts at 6pm on Sky Sports Box Office (Sky channel 491/ HD 492), and costs £26.95 to purchase.
To watch it online, book through the Sky Sports Box Office app and website.
If you don’t have a Box Office account, you’ll still be able to sign up and buy the fight.
DAZN will be showing the fight in 190+ countries outside of the UK
Usyk vs Joshua fight purse
Joshua and Usyk completed the biggest ever site deal, with Saudi Arabia agreeing to pay £65m to stage the fight.
This time around, with Usyk going in as the champ there is a straight 50/50 split – so it is at least £32.5m each BEFORE PPV buys.
Joshua on Fury fight
Anthony Joshua has joked he will lure heavyweight rival Tyson Fury back into boxing should he beat Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch.
The Gypsy King called time on his glistening career in April after brutally knocking out Dillian Whyte at Wembley to retain his WBC title.
Speaking on a media call ahead of his rematch to face Usyk, Joshua was asked whether he can bring Fury out of retirement should he beat the unbeaten Ukrainian.`
To which a laughing AJ said: “Yeah I can bring him out of retirement, 100 per cent.
“I think he’ll bring himself out of retirement, you hear what I’m saying? I think he’ll bring himself out of retirement, s***…”
Joshua taking pay cut
AJ is banking a basic £33.2million for tomorrow’s Saudi-funded showdown with Oleksandr Usyk — a pay cut of £13m!
The Watford man trousered £46m when he regained his world heavyweight titles from Andy Ruiz Jr in Riyadh three years ago.
But now AJ, beaten by Usyk 11 months ago, has been forced to take a lesser amount as he tries to get the WBA, IBF and WBO belts back from the Ukrainian warrior.
Usyk will bag the same £33.2m pay packet as the challenger when the pair clash in Jeddah.
And the victor is in line for a bonus based on the pay-per-view buys on Sky Sports in the UK and on DAZN around the world.
Full fight night timings for tomorrow
Get the popcorn ready, here’s all the fight times for you to plan ahead for tomorrow night.
- Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 (10.54pm) – World heavyweight championship WBA ‘super’, IBF, IBO and WBO – 12 rounds
- Filip Hrgovic vs Zhilei Zhang (9.52pm) – IBF heavyweight final eliminator – 12 rounds
- Callum Smith vs Mathieu Bauderlique (8.50pm) – WBC light-heavyweight final eliminator – 12 rounds
- Badou Jack vs Richard Rivera (7.18pm) – cruiserweight – 10 rounds
- Ziyad Almaayouf vs Jose Alatorre (6.48pm) – super-lightweight – 4 rounds
- Ramla Ali vs Crystal Garcia Nova (6.10pm) – super-bantamweight – 8 rounds
- Andrew Tabiti vs James Wilson (5.24pm) – heavyweight – 8 rounds
- Ben Whittaker vs Peter Nosic (4.46pm) – light-heavyweight – 6 rounds
- Daniel Lapin vs Josef Jurko (4.03pm) – heavyweight – 8 rounds
- Bader Alsamreen vs Faud Tarverdi (3.30pm) – super lightweight – 6 rounds
- Rashed Belhassa aka Money Kicks vs Traycho Georgiev (3pm) – welterweight – 4 rounds
Tale of the tape
How the fighters compare ahead of tomorrow night’s big one.
Joshua, 32, was bettered over 12 rounds but has since changed trainers and vowed to come in with an all-new style.
Whereas Usyk, 35, appears to have bulked up in preparation for the rematch on Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
Weigh to go!
Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk weigh in TODAY for their HUGE, huge rematch tomorrow night in Saudi Arabi.
Last time out, in September 2021, there was over a STONE of difference between the pair with AJ weighing in at 17st 2bs to Usyk’s 15st 8lbs.
But this time Usyk could weigh over 16st, with the Ukrainian hero looking to have bulked up considerably.
According to trainer Dave Coldwell, who coached Tony Bellew against the heavyweight champion, this is the wrong approach to take.
Coldwell said: “From an Usyk point of view, I get that he is going to be more aggressive and look to land bigger shots but with his mobility and speed being his two greatest assets they will take a hit.
“It’s going to slow him down, if you’re losing speed, you’re giving more options to be hit and not only that I believe that AJ really needs to focus on going to Usyk’s body to take away his legs.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
