Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk face each other tensely ahead of the fight in Saudi Arabia
The most important boxing match of the year has arrived. In the port city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Anthony Joshua will look to reclaim his heavyweight titles in a main event showdown with Oleksandr Usyk, the man who dethroned the Briton almost a year ago.
Last September, Usyk was a unanimous decision winner against Joshua at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London. The win kept the 35-year-old Ukrainian undefeated and crowned him a two-weight world champion, following his stint as the only undisputed cruiserweight champion of the four-belt era. Joshua, 32, quickly activated a rematch clause, and that second showdown with Usyk was expected to take place earlier this year. Usyk, however, returned to Ukraine to help defend his nation against the ongoing Russian invasion.
Eventually, Usyk left his home country to begin preparations for a rematch with Joshua, who wants to become a three-time world heavyweight champion. The Brit previously lost the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts to Andy Ruiz Jr with a TKO defeat in June 2019, before regaining them by beating the Mexican- American in Saudi Arabia six months later. Can “AJ” replicate that feat and keep his hopes of an undisputed title showdown with compatriot Tyson Fury alive? Follow live updates and results from all lower card and main event decks below:
Usyk vs Joshua 2
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Usyk vs Joshua 2: Hrgovic vs Zhang reaction
Lucky guy, Hrgovic gets the nod. A strange performance.
Clarke: “It was strange, he’s had some family issues. Both boys, is the heat a problem? It all looked bad.
“Zhang boxed better than I thought, I had a draw. You could have given it to either of them for a round.
Okolie: “I think Zhang was methodical, he drew Hrgovic to that pace. As you get more tired, you get more distracted.”
Froch: “I think Hrgovic took Zhang lightly. I thought Zhang boxed well. Hrgovic just couldn’t get in. The right man won.”
Okolie: “Give me some time.”
Clarke: “That’s the level I want to get to, I can compete with that. They’re going to have some words on the champion. That wouldn’t be good enough to compete with Usyk, Joshua or Fury.”
Jack Rathborn August 20, 2022 10:49 p.m
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Usyk vs. Joshua 2: Hrgovic vs. Zhang
Let’s go to the tabs…
115-112, 115-112, 114-113, all three cards and winner of the IBF world title eliminator… Hrgovic!
Jack Rathborn August 20, 2022 10:45 pm
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Usyk vs Joshua 2: Hrgovic vs Zhang – Round 12
Cards could be everywhere here!
The final push for Hrgovic, he is in the lead in the first minute of the final round.
Zhang waiting for an opening. Hrgovic driving the jab, then a big right. Zhang takes it.
Both men still slipping, this looks done with 30 seconds left. Both men raise their hands. Zhang leans in the corner, no celebration, but he could have.
Nisse Sauderland thinks his man Hrgovic has beaten him.
(PA)
Jack Rathborn August 20, 2022 10:40 pm
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Usyk vs Joshua 2
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (2nd-L) poses with FIFA President Gianni Infantino
(AFP via Getty Images)
Jack Rathborn August 20, 2022 10:39 p.m
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Usyk vs Joshua 2: Hrgovic vs Zhang – Round 11
Zhang landing big shots, Hrgovic tired!
The Croatian’s behavior has been strange throughout the fight, taking time off.
(PA)
Jack Rathborn August 20, 2022 10:37 p.m
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Usyk vs Joshua 2: Hrgovic vs Zhang – Round 10
Hrgovic gave a talk. Macklin says he has Zhang by two rounds with three rounds to go.
Could the defeat be crucial? Was this lapse in concentration costly with Zhang looking unlikely to win any more rounds?
Hrgovic again dictated the tempo, Zhang took a break, complaining about the cloth and water or sweat.
Hrgovic sniffing out a save, this has been pretty entertaining. Hrgovic landing big combinations. Has it weathered the storm?
Jack Rathborn August 20, 2022 10:33 pm
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Usyk vs Joshua 2: Hrgovic vs Zhang – Round 9
Hrgovic with a big right hand to open the ninth!
Neither man looks like a threat to Usyk or Joshua sometime in 2023. A timeout with water on the canvas.
Not much will come back from Zhang now, more surviving in there.
Huge shots from Zhang, Hrgovic looks to his feet, big lefts pushed down the barrel. Hrgovic couldn’t defend himself at the end of the round, turned and landed a big shot. The Chinese fighter loves it! Great last minute pinched round?
Jack Rathborn August 20, 2022 10:30 pm
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Usyk vs Joshua 2: Hrgovic vs Zhang – Round 8
Jack Rathborn August 20, 2022 10:23 p.m
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Usyk vs Joshua 2: Hrgovic vs Zhang – Round 8
Zhang tired in the corner, but bounced a few big shots off the top of Hrgovic’s head in the seventh.
Great combination from Hrgovic, now Zhang looks tired, lands a big right. Hand speed is back. The Chinese fighter moaning at the referee.
Hrgovic much happier after that, but then falls in his corner. Both men very tired.
(PA)
(PA)
Jack Rathborn August 20, 2022 10:22 p.m
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Usyk vs Joshua 2: Hrgovic vs Zhang – Round 7
Matt Macklin has Zhang ahead on the cards, Hrgovic has recovered his legs.
But both men are tired now as we enter the second half of the bout.
A good turn from the Croatian. The pace slows down in the last 30 seconds, but Zhang takes no chances, perhaps an end for him.
Jack Rathborn August 20, 2022 10:20 pm