By: Sean Crose
It has no doubt been a great year for Ukraine, the Eastern European nation engaged in an all-out war with Russian forces. WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has returned to his native Ukraine after Russia began its invasion last winter. However, he was allowed to leave the country to fight Anthony Joshua in their rematch last fall. Usyk in the meantime is doing his little part to return the favor of the Ukrainian government by making his August 20 rematch with Joshua in Saudi Arabia free to watch in his home country. .
“Usik”, Daily mail wrote, “determined to make the match free to watch for everyone in Ukraine after securing the television rights from the Saudi Arabian organizers.” Usyk is said to be willing to pay for the TV rights, but the Saudi rights holders will allow the fighting deck to be broadcast in Ukraine for free. This should provide at least some good news for the people of that war-torn nation. Residents of the UK, Joshua’s hometown, will also be able to watch the match broadcast for free.
Usyk, the undisputed former world champion cruiser, no doubt surprised some when he beat the popular Joshua last year, thereby removing the towering British tennis player from the list. its mark. Joshua, who now has new coach Robert Garcia, the American, is sure to come up with a new strategy for the rematch, just as he did when he successfully rematched Andy Ruiz after his incredible loss to Mexican-American in 2019. Joshua decided to take Ruiz down a second time, and this tactic was a great success.
This time, however, Joshua will likely approach Usyk with more aggression than the first – as Usyk was able to prove himself the better boxer in two fights last year. There’s no doubt Usyk is gearing up for something new when he meets Joshua again later this month in a rematch.
Ukraine is a country famous for its heavyweight boxers. Former heavyweight player Vitali Klitschko is currently the mayor of the Ukrainian capital city. Vitali’s younger brother, Wladimir, was a prestigious heavyweight athlete – and a very old man at the time. If Usyk can beat Joshua a second time, he is likely to be considered one of his nation’s greatest boxers.
