Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua 2

A much-anticipated heavyweight rematch takes place within the desert of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia this Saturday, as Anthony Joshua makes an attempt to regain the WBA ‘tremendous’, IBF, WBO and IBO titles towards Oleksandr Usyk on the Jeddah Superdome.

Sky Sports activities Field Workplace televise Usyk vs Joshua reside within the UK, while DAZN broadcast globally.

Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) has already misplaced and regained this quartet of belts as soon as earlier than. The 2012 Olympic champion bulldozed his solution to the heavyweight crown in 2016, flattening IBF champion Charles Martin inside two rounds, and three fights later, he unified, including the WBA ‘tremendous’ and IBO titles with a pulsating eleventh spherical stoppage of Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium. 

An additional unification got here in March 2018 towards Joseph Parker, the place ‘AJ’ captured the WBO strap in Cardiff with a large factors win, and he adopted up with a stoppage defence towards Alexander Povetkin, earlier than trying to interrupt America. 

When Jarrell Miller failed a number of drug exams, in stepped Andy Ruiz Jr at quick discover in June 2019. Nobody foresaw the Californian profitable, however he dropped Joshua 4 occasions on the way in which to a surprising seventh spherical success. 

A rematch was a pure, and this time the Watford man took benefit of Ruiz’s over indulgence, and took a large factors win in Saudi Arabia. 

The 32-year-old would defend towards Kubrat Pulev within the again finish of 2020, after which began as heat favorite to defeat Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) when the pair met final September.

The Ukrainian was additionally a 2012 Olympic champion, and performed all earlier than him at cruiserweight, cleansing out the division by accumulating all 4 main belts and the Muhammad Ali Trophy. 

After a medical eighth spherical knockout of Tony Bellew in November 2018, retaining his undisputed title, the 35-year-old moved as much as heavyweight, however was laboured in his wins over Chazz Witherspoon (RTD7) and Derek Chisora (UD12), however would get his shot at Joshua on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as WBO primary. 

Many anticipated the Brit’s dimension to be an excessive amount of, however Usyk turned in a masterclass, bamboozling his rival and hurting him a number of occasions on the way in which to a factors win.

Joshua is now underneath the tutelage of Robert Garcia, and there are many changes to be made with a purpose to take a revenge win.

Prediction: Usyk shocked many with the way of his win first time round, and it’s exhausting to see Joshua having the ability to regulate his techniques sufficient to take victory right here. The protected wager is for Usyk to management the tempo and distance, and take one other clear factors win.

Smith battles Bauderlique

Callum Smith (28-1, 20 KOs) is on the lookout for a second world title, this time at mild heavyweight, and he ought to be capable to take his ultimate eliminator for Artur Beterbiev’s WBC title inside the space towards France’s Mathieu Bauderlique.

Bauderlique (21-1, 12 KOs) hasn’t fought outdoors of France, however did take the vacant European title final trip.

Hrgovic meets Zhang

Filip Hrgovic (14-0, 12 KOs) and Zhilei Zhang (24-0-1, 19 KOs) lastly conflict after a postponement, and I fancy Hrgovic to take the scheduled heavyweight ten rounder inside schedule.

Jack returns

Former two-weight world champion, Badou Jack (26-3-3, 16 KOs) is now campaigning at cruiserweight, and the Swede ought to be capable to take his ten rounder with Richard Rivera (21-0, 16 KOs) on the playing cards.

Remaining Undercard