By: Sean Crose
No doubt people were surprised last September when Anthony Joshua lost multiple heavyweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk by unanimous decision in Joshua’s hometown of London. The towering British tennis player was tipped to beat Usyk and eventually battle Tyson Fury for the undisputed world championship. That, of course, is hope. However, Usyk ruined the plan by putting in a master class. Everyone who has followed the former undisputed weight cruiser title knows Usyk is very good. On a September night in London, however, Usyk’s performance perhaps surprised even his most ardent supporters. However, Joshua, being Joshua, is not going to sit and pit the latter.
The former player made it clear immediately that he wanted a rematch. And a rematch he will get. Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn feels like Ruiz-Joshua 2 will be out in the spring. “Only really consider potential sites,” says Hearn iFL TV. “I’d love it to be in London.” The way Hearn sees it, Usyk-Joshua 2 is probably three months or so. “I think it will be in May,” he said. “Hopefully it’s announced before the end of the month.” The much-anticipated fight has almost come to a halt as it looks like Joshua will put money aside for Usyk to take on Fury first. However, that plan ultimately failed.
Hearn said: “Usyk prefers to play against AJ. “AJ preferred the fight with Usyk… but we were closed. A plan can make sense and people are willing to discuss it. “But since that plan didn’t come to fruition, Hearn is aiming for his warrior to face Usyk again. “We all know what we have to do,” he said, referring to Team Joshua. and Team Usyk.
If Joshua were to top Usyk, he would find himself three-time world heavyweight champion, as he lost and regained the title from Andy Ruiz. He also demonstrated in the second Ruiz battle that he could change his fighting style to use a winning strategy against an opponent who had defeated him previously. If he’s going to change things up with Usyk this time around, Joshua will obviously soon find out if the technique he’s come up with will work. “May 14, May 21”st Hearn talks about an exact day of battle. “I don’t think it will be too far.”
