Tag: Joshua vs Usyk

Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr Usyk: date, time, how to watch, background

Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr Usyk: date, time, how to watch, background.

HEAVYWEIGHT TITLEHOLDER ANTHONY JOSHUA RETURNS TO THE RING AGAINST FORMER CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMP OLEKSANDR USYK ON SATURDAY IN LONDON.

***

ANTHONY JOSHUA (24-1, 22 KOs) VS. OLEKSANDR USYK (18-0, 13 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 25
  • Time: 10 a.m. (main event approximately 2 p.m.)
  • Where: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Heavyweight
  • Weights: Joshua 240 pounds, Usyk 221.25
  • At stake: Joshua’s IBF, WBA and WBO titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Joshua 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Lawrence Okolie vs. Dilan Prasovic, cruiserweights (for Okolie’s WBO title); Callum Smith vs. Lenin Castillo, light heavyweights
  • Prediction: Joshua UD 12
  • Background: Joshua was expected to meet British rival and fellow titleholder Tyson Fury in his next fight, which arguably would be the biggest possible event in boxing. Instead, after Fury was forced to fight Deontay Wilder a third time, Joshua will defend against mandatory challenger Usyk. Joshua is two fights removed from the biggest nightmare of his career, a stunning seventh-round knockout loss against Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019 that cost him his belts and raised questions about his toughness. He responded by outpointing an ill-prepared Ruiz six months to regain his titles and right his ship. He then blew out Kubrat Pulev in nine rounds this past December, his most-recent fight. Usyk is trying to follow in the footsteps of Evander Holyfield and David Haye, cruiserweight titleholders who went on to become heavyweight champion. The 2012 Olympic gold medalist from Ukraine has fought twice as a heavyweight, stopping Chazz Witherspoon in seven rounds in October 2019 and defeating Derek Chisora by a decision in a competitive fight a year later. He has the ability to compete with Joshua but a size disadvantage might be an issue, although his handlers insist he has grown into the division. Joshua is 6-foot-6, 240-plus pounds; Usyk is 6-3 and last fought at 217ÂĽ. The winner on Saturday could face the winner of the Oct. 9 Fury-Wilder fight.

[lawrence-related id=24043,24037,23997,23853,22006,23867]

How Oleksandr Usyk conquered British boxing: Will Anthony Joshua be next?

How Oleksandr Usyk conquered British boxing: Will Anthony Joshua be next?

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Oleksandr Usyk gets a chance to make history on Saturday when he challenges Anthony Joshua for the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

A win over Joshua will make Usyk (18-0, 13 KOs) the first Ukrainian boxer to win the cruiserweight and heavyweight belts and hand “AJ” his first professional loss in his home country of England.

While most fighters have a problem going into enemy territory, none of that fazes the former undisputed cruiserweight champion.

Two of Usyk’s last three fights have been held in the United Kingdom against countrymen Tony Bellew and Derek Chisora. Usyk battered and knocked out Bellew in the eighth round and won via unanimous decision over Chisora in his last time out in October.

Becoming a two-division world champion would certainly make Usyk the conqueror of the best heavyweights England has to offer.

DAZN News takes a look at Usyk victories over these highly-regarded British boxers.

***

OLEKSANDER USYK VS. JOE JOYCE — JANUARY 2013

Usyk was coming off capturing the gold medal in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Meanwhile, Joyce competed as a super heavyweight and won the 2012 ABA Championships and 2012 GB Amateur Boxing Championships.

They ended up meeting in January 2013 in a World Series of Boxing event in London. The World Series of Boxing was an annual semi-professional event using a hybrid of amateur and professional rules. Usyk represented the Ukraine Otamans while Joyce was on the British Lionhearts.

Usyk went on to cruise to a lopsided unanimous decision win, with all three judges scoring the five-round affair 50-45.

***

OLEKSANDER USYK VS. TONY BELLEW — NOVEMBER 2018

Usyk and Bellew were at different stages of their respective careers.

Usyk had come off three stellar victories over Marco Huck, Mairis Briedis, and Murat Gassiev to win the World Boxing Super Series and becoming the undisputed cruiserweight champion. Those wins signified Usyk as one of boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighters.

On the other hand, Bellew was on the way out. The former WBC cruiserweight titlist wanted a crack at Usyk for all the marbles. Going into the fight, Bellew made it clear that win, lose or draw, it would be his last fight.

In front of a soldout Manchester Arena in Manchester, England, Bellew had a solid start. But by the end of the fourth round, Usyk’s precision footwork and power was starting to prove to be too much for Bellew.

It was all she wrote in the eighth round when Usyk dropped Bellew with a hard left hand. Bellew made it back to his feet, but the referee knew he was in no condition to continue, and Usyk remained the four-belt cruiserweight champion in what would be his final bout in the weight class. And Bellew was a man of his word and announced his retirement immediately after the fight.

***

OLEKSANDER USYK VS. DEREK CHISORA  — OCTOBER 2020

Usyk returned to England for the first time since the Bellew fight. In between, he went to the United States and made his heavyweight debut in October 2019, where he stopped late replacement, Chazz Witherspoon.

Chisora, a fan favorite, was riding a three-fight winning streak heading into another marquee bout.

Chisora had a good start in which he was able to use weight and power advantage. But in the latter half of the fight, Usyk was able to figure Chisora out. He used his world-class footwork and boxing IQ to tire Chisora and win via unanimous decision to solidify his standing as the mandatory challenger for Joshua.

[lawrence-related id=24043,24037,23993,23867,15179]

How Oleksandr Usyk conquered British boxing: Will Anthony Joshua be next?

How Oleksandr Usyk conquered British boxing: Will Anthony Joshua be next?

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Oleksandr Usyk gets a chance to make history on Saturday when he challenges Anthony Joshua for the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

A win over Joshua will make Usyk (18-0, 13 KOs) the first Ukrainian boxer to win the cruiserweight and heavyweight belts and hand “AJ” his first professional loss in his home country of England.

While most fighters have a problem going into enemy territory, none of that fazes the former undisputed cruiserweight champion.

Two of Usyk’s last three fights have been held in the United Kingdom against countrymen Tony Bellew and Derek Chisora. Usyk battered and knocked out Bellew in the eighth round and won via unanimous decision over Chisora in his last time out in October.

Becoming a two-division world champion would certainly make Usyk the conqueror of the best heavyweights England has to offer.

DAZN News takes a look at Usyk victories over these highly-regarded British boxers.

***

OLEKSANDER USYK VS. JOE JOYCE — JANUARY 2013

Usyk was coming off capturing the gold medal in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Meanwhile, Joyce competed as a super heavyweight and won the 2012 ABA Championships and 2012 GB Amateur Boxing Championships.

They ended up meeting in January 2013 in a World Series of Boxing event in London. The World Series of Boxing was an annual semi-professional event using a hybrid of amateur and professional rules. Usyk represented the Ukraine Otamans while Joyce was on the British Lionhearts.

Usyk went on to cruise to a lopsided unanimous decision win, with all three judges scoring the five-round affair 50-45.

***

OLEKSANDER USYK VS. TONY BELLEW — NOVEMBER 2018

Usyk and Bellew were at different stages of their respective careers.

Usyk had come off three stellar victories over Marco Huck, Mairis Briedis, and Murat Gassiev to win the World Boxing Super Series and becoming the undisputed cruiserweight champion. Those wins signified Usyk as one of boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighters.

On the other hand, Bellew was on the way out. The former WBC cruiserweight titlist wanted a crack at Usyk for all the marbles. Going into the fight, Bellew made it clear that win, lose or draw, it would be his last fight.

In front of a soldout Manchester Arena in Manchester, England, Bellew had a solid start. But by the end of the fourth round, Usyk’s precision footwork and power was starting to prove to be too much for Bellew.

It was all she wrote in the eighth round when Usyk dropped Bellew with a hard left hand. Bellew made it back to his feet, but the referee knew he was in no condition to continue, and Usyk remained the four-belt cruiserweight champion in what would be his final bout in the weight class. And Bellew was a man of his word and announced his retirement immediately after the fight.

***

OLEKSANDER USYK VS. DEREK CHISORA  — OCTOBER 2020

Usyk returned to England for the first time since the Bellew fight. In between, he went to the United States and made his heavyweight debut in October 2019, where he stopped late replacement, Chazz Witherspoon.

Chisora, a fan favorite, was riding a three-fight winning streak heading into another marquee bout.

Chisora had a good start in which he was able to use weight and power advantage. But in the latter half of the fight, Usyk was able to figure Chisora out. He used his world-class footwork and boxing IQ to tire Chisora and win via unanimous decision to solidify his standing as the mandatory challenger for Joshua.

[lawrence-related id=24043,24037,23993,23867,15179]

Joshua vs. Usyk: 5 questions – and answers – going into the fight

Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr Usyk: 5 questions – and answers – going into their fight Saturday in London.

Anthony Joshua still has his eye on an all-British heavyweight showdown against Tyson Fury. However, he and Fury will have to get past their immediate opponents first.

For Fury, that’s Deontay Wilder in their third fight on Oct. 9 in Las Vegas. Joshua’s obstacle comes sooner: The Londoner defends his three titles against mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (DAZN).

Usyk (18-0, 13 KOs) is no pushover. The former undisputed cruiserweight champ is a small heavyweight but he’ll bring a wealth of ability and experience into the ring in his first heavyweight title challenge.

Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) is favored in part because of his size advantage but he also knows what he’s doing in the ring.

Here are five questions – and answers – going into the pivotal fight.

What are Joshua’s advantages?

The most obvious one is natural size. Joshua is a behemoth, 6-foot-6 and 240-plus pounds in most recent fights; Usyk is 6-3 and weighed 217¼ the last time we saw him. Joshua reportedly is slimming down to gain speed while Usyk is bulking up but you can bet that the champion will outweigh the challenger in the ring. And even if the disparity is less than we imagine, it won’t matter. Joshua is the naturally bigger, stronger man. That won’t change if he loses a few pounds and Usyk puts on some. Joshua also punches much harder than Usyk, who didn’t throw particularly heavy shots even as a cruiserweight. And, finally, the 2012 Olympic super heavyweight champion isn’t a big goon; he’s a good, relatively quick athlete who knows how to box. His combination of size, strength and ability have taken him to the pinnacle of the sport, where the oddsmakers believe he’ll stay for a while.

What are Usyk’s advantages?

Ability. The Ukrainian is No. 5 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list for a reason: He’s an excellent boxer, as he demonstrated consistently as an amateur star and his successful run as a cruiserweight. He has superb footwork and anticipation, which makes him a particularly good defensive technician. Joshua could have trouble finding the target. Usyk also has more experience than Joshua. He honed his skills in a reported 360 amateur fights, compared to only 40-plus for Joshua. And while Joshua has seven more pro bouts than Usyk, the latter has an edge in rounds as a professional, 144-112. Of course, the main reason for that is Usyk’s relative lack of power; his fights go longer than Joshua’s. That said, Usyk does have 13 stoppages. His accumulation of hard, accurate shots can wear any opponent down. Bottom line: If Usyk can avoid big blows, he has a chance to upset the champion.

Are we making too much of the size disparity?

No. Joshua isn’t a relentless slugger but he fights aggressively when he wants to, as we saw in his most recent fight, a ninth-round knockout Kubrat Pulev in December. Opponents must give him a reason to box carefully, meaning they have be able to hurt him. That was the case in Joshua’s rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr., who knocked him out in their first fight. Usyk can’t punch like Ruiz. Again, an accumulation of his punches could do some damage. However, it will be difficult for Usyk to get Joshua’s respect because he doesn’t have the kind of power than can stop the champion in his tracks with one shot. Joshua most likely will fight aggressively most of the fight because he won’t have a reason not to and land enough power shots to wear down Usyk. That’s why I believe Joshua will win by a late knockout or a wide decision.

Is Joshua’s mental toughness still a question mark?

I think so. He fell apart in the first fight with Ruiz, who put Joshua down four times and stopped him in seven rounds. Joshua simply had no idea how to cope with what Ruiz was throwing at him and shut down. And the rematch didn’t alleviate the perception that Joshua is vulnerable. He outboxed Ruiz to win a clear decision and regain his titles but he fought tentatively to avoid a repeat of the earlier disaster. He looked more like the Joshua of old against Pulev, who was overmatched. However, we need to see what happens when Joshua finds himself in trouble again. Will he fold, as he did against Ruiz? Or will he fight through it the next time? Only time and a hard punch or two will tell. For the record: Joshua did demonstrate toughness when he got up from a knockdown to stop Wladimir Klitschko in 2017. He obviously has it in him.

What are we to make of Usyk performance against Derek Chisora?

Not much. Some have pointed to Usyk’s unanimous decision victory over Chisora last October as a sign of his limitations. Usyk had his hand raised but didn’t dominate the fight, as many expected him to do. After all, Chisora was 36 and deemed past his prime. I saw it differently. The Chisora who fought Usyk was fit and determined. He obviously saw the fight as an opportunity to reestablish himself as a bona fide contender and did everything in his power to take advantage of it. On top of that, he outweighed Usyk by more than 38 pounds. Still, Usyk used his superior skill set and impressive resilience to win the fight on all three cards. And remember: Chisora went on to give former titleholder Joseph Parker all he could handle in a split-decision loss six months later. If anything, Usyk demonstrated in his fight against Chisora that he belongs in the division.

[lawrence-related id=24037,23993,23867,22006]

Joshua vs. Usyk: 5 questions – and answers – going into the fight

Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr Usyk: 5 questions – and answers – going into their fight Saturday in London.

Anthony Joshua still has his eye on an all-British heavyweight showdown against Tyson Fury. However, he and Fury will have to get past their immediate opponents first.

For Fury, that’s Deontay Wilder in their third fight on Oct. 9 in Las Vegas. Joshua’s obstacle comes sooner: The Londoner defends his three titles against mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (DAZN).

Usyk (18-0, 13 KOs) is no pushover. The former undisputed cruiserweight champ is a small heavyweight but he’ll bring a wealth of ability and experience into the ring in his first heavyweight title challenge.

Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) is favored in part because of his size advantage but he also knows what he’s doing in the ring.

Here are five questions – and answers – going into the pivotal fight.

What are Joshua’s advantages?

The most obvious one is natural size. Joshua is a behemoth, 6-foot-6 and 240-plus pounds in most recent fights; Usyk is 6-3 and weighed 217¼ the last time we saw him. Joshua reportedly is slimming down to gain speed while Usyk is bulking up but you can bet that the champion will outweigh the challenger in the ring. And even if the disparity is less than we imagine, it won’t matter. Joshua is the naturally bigger, stronger man. That won’t change if he loses a few pounds and Usyk puts on some. Joshua also punches much harder than Usyk, who didn’t throw particularly heavy shots even as a cruiserweight. And, finally, the 2012 Olympic super heavyweight champion isn’t a big goon; he’s a good, relatively quick athlete who knows how to box. His combination of size, strength and ability have taken him to the pinnacle of the sport, where the oddsmakers believe he’ll stay for a while.

What are Usyk’s advantages?

Ability. The Ukrainian is No. 5 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list for a reason: He’s an excellent boxer, as he demonstrated consistently as an amateur star and his successful run as a cruiserweight. He has superb footwork and anticipation, which makes him a particularly good defensive technician. Joshua could have trouble finding the target. Usyk also has more experience than Joshua. He honed his skills in a reported 360 amateur fights, compared to only 40-plus for Joshua. And while Joshua has seven more pro bouts than Usyk, the latter has an edge in rounds as a professional, 144-112. Of course, the main reason for that is Usyk’s relative lack of power; his fights go longer than Joshua’s. That said, Usyk does have 13 stoppages. His accumulation of hard, accurate shots can wear any opponent down. Bottom line: If Usyk can avoid big blows, he has a chance to upset the champion.

Are we making too much of the size disparity?

No. Joshua isn’t a relentless slugger but he fights aggressively when he wants to, as we saw in his most recent fight, a ninth-round knockout Kubrat Pulev in December. Opponents must give him a reason to box carefully, meaning they have be able to hurt him. That was the case in Joshua’s rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr., who knocked him out in their first fight. Usyk can’t punch like Ruiz. Again, an accumulation of his punches could do some damage. However, it will be difficult for Usyk to get Joshua’s respect because he doesn’t have the kind of power than can stop the champion in his tracks with one shot. Joshua most likely will fight aggressively most of the fight because he won’t have a reason not to and land enough power shots to wear down Usyk. That’s why I believe Joshua will win by a late knockout or a wide decision.

Is Joshua’s mental toughness still a question mark?

I think so. He fell apart in the first fight with Ruiz, who put Joshua down four times and stopped him in seven rounds. Joshua simply had no idea how to cope with what Ruiz was throwing at him and shut down. And the rematch didn’t alleviate the perception that Joshua is vulnerable. He outboxed Ruiz to win a clear decision and regain his titles but he fought tentatively to avoid a repeat of the earlier disaster. He looked more like the Joshua of old against Pulev, who was overmatched. However, we need to see what happens when Joshua finds himself in trouble again. Will he fold, as he did against Ruiz? Or will he fight through it the next time? Only time and a hard punch or two will tell. For the record: Joshua did demonstrate toughness when he got up from a knockdown to stop Wladimir Klitschko in 2017. He obviously has it in him.

What are we to make of Usyk performance against Derek Chisora?

Not much. Some have pointed to Usyk’s unanimous decision victory over Chisora last October as a sign of his limitations. Usyk had his hand raised but didn’t dominate the fight, as many expected him to do. After all, Chisora was 36 and deemed past his prime. I saw it differently. The Chisora who fought Usyk was fit and determined. He obviously saw the fight as an opportunity to reestablish himself as a bona fide contender and did everything in his power to take advantage of it. On top of that, he outweighed Usyk by more than 38 pounds. Still, Usyk used his superior skill set and impressive resilience to win the fight on all three cards. And remember: Chisora went on to give former titleholder Joseph Parker all he could handle in a split-decision loss six months later. If anything, Usyk demonstrated in his fight against Chisora that he belongs in the division.

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Anthony Joshua sees Oleksandr Usyk as a full-fledged heavyweight

Anthony Joshua believes Oleksandr Usyk is a full-fledged heavyweight going into their fight Saturday in London.

The one obvious advantage that Anthony Joshua would seem to have over Oleksandr Usyk going into their title fight Saturday in London is natural size.

Joshua, who holds three of the four major titles, is 6-foot-6 and fights at 240-plus rounds. Usyk, a mandatory challenger, is a cruiserweight champion-turned-heavyweight who is 6-3 and weighed 217.25 in his last fight.

However, Joshua doesn’t dismiss Usyk as a blown-up 200-pounder. The Ukrainian’s handlers have declared that Usyk has grown into the division and the champion is inclined to believe them.

“A full-fledged heavyweight doesn’t mean weighing like 200 kilograms or 300 pounds,” Joshua said on a zoom call Wednesday, three days before he meets Usyk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on DAZN. “It’s just like if you can physical handle them in sparring. One [sparring partner] goes four rounds then another gets in and another one gets in.

“Can you still push and shove heavyweights for 12 rounds when they’re fresh? They must see he’s well-conditioned, that he can handle the pressure from heavyweights. They must know exactly how he’s getting on in training, so I can’t go against what they see.”

Usyk (18-0, 13 KOs) has had only two fights at heavyweight, a seventh-round knockout of journeyman Chazz Witherspoon in October 2019 and a unanimous decision over longtime contender Derek Chisora a year later.

Usyk didn’t dazzle anyone in the Chisora fight but, Joshua said, he got the job done.

“He stopped Chazz, which was a good showing, stopping a full-fledged heavyweight, a big guy,” Joshua said. “And his fight with Chisora was a tough one. Chisora gives a lot of guys problems. He overcame 12 rounds and got the decision.

“In boxing, you have to put that behind you, and they fight us Saturday. That’s what he was interested in, right? Well done to him. You gotta get past certain fights no matter how you look so you can move on in boxing.”

Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) was asked whether only two fights in the new division was enough to prepare Usyk for the challenge he’ll face on Saturday.

He responded by saying that, ideally, Usyk would have had more time to adjust to the biggest men in the sport. At the same time, he understands why the challenger and his advisors want this fight at the current time.

“They talk about [former cruiserweight Evander] Holyfield a lot,” Joshua said. “I think he had six warmup fights before he fought Buster Douglas for the title, which is important. You can’t rush in the heavyweight division.

“But, then again, you know, Holyfield was 25 when he came up to the heavyweight division so he had a bit more time to develop. Usyk’s like 34, so he hasn’t got enough time to have six warmup fights and get ready. They want it now.”

In the end, Joshua respects Usyk for the courage the naturally smaller man has to step into the ring with him.

“Let’s give Oleksander Usyk credit as well because I wouldn’t want to be in the ring with me,” he said. “If I were Oleksandr Usyk, [if] I would be looking across the ring, I swear to God I wouldn’t want to be in the ring with someone like me. I’m very competitive.

“Good luck to him on Saturday.”

[lawrence-related id=23997,23993,23853,22006]

Anthony Joshua sees Oleksandr Usyk as a full-fledged heavyweight

Anthony Joshua believes Oleksandr Usyk is a full-fledged heavyweight going into their fight Saturday in London.

The one obvious advantage that Anthony Joshua would seem to have over Oleksandr Usyk going into their title fight Saturday in London is natural size.

Joshua, who holds three of the four major titles, is 6-foot-6 and fights at 240-plus rounds. Usyk, a mandatory challenger, is a cruiserweight champion-turned-heavyweight who is 6-3 and weighed 217.25 in his last fight.

However, Joshua doesn’t dismiss Usyk as a blown-up 200-pounder. The Ukrainian’s handlers have declared that Usyk has grown into the division and the champion is inclined to believe them.

“A full-fledged heavyweight doesn’t mean weighing like 200 kilograms or 300 pounds,” Joshua said on a zoom call Wednesday, three days before he meets Usyk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on DAZN. “It’s just like if you can physical handle them in sparring. One [sparring partner] goes four rounds then another gets in and another one gets in.

“Can you still push and shove heavyweights for 12 rounds when they’re fresh? They must see he’s well-conditioned, that he can handle the pressure from heavyweights. They must know exactly how he’s getting on in training, so I can’t go against what they see.”

Usyk (18-0, 13 KOs) has had only two fights at heavyweight, a seventh-round knockout of journeyman Chazz Witherspoon in October 2019 and a unanimous decision over longtime contender Derek Chisora a year later.

Usyk didn’t dazzle anyone in the Chisora fight but, Joshua said, he got the job done.

“He stopped Chazz, which was a good showing, stopping a full-fledged heavyweight, a big guy,” Joshua said. “And his fight with Chisora was a tough one. Chisora gives a lot of guys problems. He overcame 12 rounds and got the decision.

“In boxing, you have to put that behind you, and they fight us Saturday. That’s what he was interested in, right? Well done to him. You gotta get past certain fights no matter how you look so you can move on in boxing.”

Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) was asked whether only two fights in the new division was enough to prepare Usyk for the challenge he’ll face on Saturday.

He responded by saying that, ideally, Usyk would have had more time to adjust to the biggest men in the sport. At the same time, he understands why the challenger and his advisors want this fight at the current time.

“They talk about [former cruiserweight Evander] Holyfield a lot,” Joshua said. “I think he had six warmup fights before he fought Buster Douglas for the title, which is important. You can’t rush in the heavyweight division.

“But, then again, you know, Holyfield was 25 when he came up to the heavyweight division so he had a bit more time to develop. Usyk’s like 34, so he hasn’t got enough time to have six warmup fights and get ready. They want it now.”

In the end, Joshua respects Usyk for the courage the naturally smaller man has to step into the ring with him.

“Let’s give Oleksander Usyk credit as well because I wouldn’t want to be in the ring with me,” he said. “If I were Oleksandr Usyk, [if] I would be looking across the ring, I swear to God I wouldn’t want to be in the ring with someone like me. I’m very competitive.

“Good luck to him on Saturday.”

[lawrence-related id=23997,23993,23853,22006]

Fight Week: Anthony Joshua returns against Oleksandr Usyk

Fight Week: Anthony Joshua returns against Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday in London.

FIGHT WEEK

HEAVYWEIGHT TITLEHOLDER ANTHONY JOSHUA RETURNS TO THE RING AGAINST FORMER CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMP OLEKSANDR USYK ON SATURDAY IN LONDON.

***

JA’RICO O’QUINN (14-0-1, 8 KOs) VS. SAUL SANCHEZ (16-1, 9 KOs)

  • When: Friday, Sept. 24
  • Where: Central Park Community Center, Broken Arrow, Okla.
  • TV/Stream: Showtime (ShoBox)
  • Division: Bantamweight
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Jayvon Garnett vs. Luis Reynaldo Nunez, featherweights; Alejandro Guerrero vs. Otar Eranosyan, junior lightweights.
  • Prediction: Joshua UD 12

Background: The three-fight “ShoBox: The New Generation” telecast will feature six young fighters with a combined record of 72-2-1. Ja’Rico O’Quinn, a 26-year-old from Detroit, faces Los Angeles-area native Saul Sanchez, 24, in the scheduled 10-round bantamweight main event. O’Quinn hasn’t fought since January of last year, meaning he will have been out of the ring for 20 months. Sanchez has fought four times during that period, the last time in March, when he stopped Frank Gonzalez in one round. Sanchez is ranked by two sanctioning bodies at junior bantamweight. Also, Jayvon Garnett (10-0, 5 KOs) of Cincinnati will take on Dominican Luis Reynaldo Nunez (11-0, 8 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight bout. Nunez is ranked No. 11 by the WBA at junior featherweight. And Otar Eranosyan (9-0, 6 KOs) of Akhalkalaki, Georgia will face Texan Alejandro Guerrero (12-1, 9 KOs) in a scheduled eight-round junior lightweight fight. Eranosyan is ranked No. 9 by the WBA at junior lightweight.

***

ANTHONY JOSHUA (24-1, 22 KOs) VS. OLEKSANDR USYK (18-0, 13 KOs)

  • When: Saturday, Sept. 25
  • Where: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Heavyweight
  • At stake: Joshua’s IBF, WBA and WBO titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Joshua 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Lawrence Okolie vs. Dilan Prasovic, cruiserweights (for Okolie’s WBO title); Callum Smith vs. Lenin Castillo, light heavyweights
  • Prediction: Joshua UD 12
  • Background: Joshua was expected to meet British rival and fellow titleholder Tyson Fury in his next fight, which arguably would be the biggest possible event in boxing. Instead, after Fury was forced to fight Deontay Wilder a third time, Joshua will defend against mandatory challenger Usyk. Joshua is two fights removed from the biggest nightmare of his career, a stunning seventh-round knockout loss against Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019 that cost him his belts and raised questions about his toughness. He responded by outpointing an ill-prepared Ruiz six months to regain his titles and right his ship. He then blew out Kubrat Pulev in nine rounds this past December, his most-recent fight. Usyk is trying to follow in the footsteps of Evander Holyfield and David Haye, cruiserweight titleholders who went on to become heavyweight champion. The 2012 Olympic gold medalist from Ukraine has fought twice as a heavyweight, stopping Chazz Witherspoon in seven rounds in October 2019 and defeating Derek Chisora by a decision in a competitive fight a year later. He has the ability to compete with Joshua but a size disadvantage might be an issue, although his handlers insist he has grown into the division. Joshua is 6-foot-6, 240-plus pounds; Usyk is 6-3 and last fought at 217ÂĽ. The winner on Saturday could face the winner of the Oct. 9 Fury-Wilder fight.

Also fighting this weekend: Kenshiro Teraji (18-0, 10 KOs) will defend his WBC junior flyweight title against Masamichi Yabuki (12-3, 11 KOs) on Wednesday in Kyoto, Japan (no TV in U.S.).

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Fight Week: Anthony Joshua returns against Oleksandr Usyk

Fight Week: Anthony Joshua returns against Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday in London.

FIGHT WEEK

HEAVYWEIGHT TITLEHOLDER ANTHONY JOSHUA RETURNS TO THE RING AGAINST FORMER CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMP OLEKSANDR USYK ON SATURDAY IN LONDON.

***

JA’RICO O’QUINN (14-0-1, 8 KOs) VS. SAUL SANCHEZ (16-1, 9 KOs)

  • When: Friday, Sept. 24
  • Where: Central Park Community Center, Broken Arrow, Okla.
  • TV/Stream: Showtime (ShoBox)
  • Division: Bantamweight
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Jayvon Garnett vs. Luis Reynaldo Nunez, featherweights; Alejandro Guerrero vs. Otar Eranosyan, junior lightweights.
  • Prediction: Joshua UD 12

Background: The three-fight “ShoBox: The New Generation” telecast will feature six young fighters with a combined record of 72-2-1. Ja’Rico O’Quinn, a 26-year-old from Detroit, faces Los Angeles-area native Saul Sanchez, 24, in the scheduled 10-round bantamweight main event. O’Quinn hasn’t fought since January of last year, meaning he will have been out of the ring for 20 months. Sanchez has fought four times during that period, the last time in March, when he stopped Frank Gonzalez in one round. Sanchez is ranked by two sanctioning bodies at junior bantamweight. Also, Jayvon Garnett (10-0, 5 KOs) of Cincinnati will take on Dominican Luis Reynaldo Nunez (11-0, 8 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight bout. Nunez is ranked No. 11 by the WBA at junior featherweight. And Otar Eranosyan (9-0, 6 KOs) of Akhalkalaki, Georgia will face Texan Alejandro Guerrero (12-1, 9 KOs) in a scheduled eight-round junior lightweight fight. Eranosyan is ranked No. 9 by the WBA at junior lightweight.

***

ANTHONY JOSHUA (24-1, 22 KOs) VS. OLEKSANDR USYK (18-0, 13 KOs)

  • When: Saturday, Sept. 25
  • Where: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Heavyweight
  • At stake: Joshua’s IBF, WBA and WBO titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Joshua 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Lawrence Okolie vs. Dilan Prasovic, cruiserweights (for Okolie’s WBO title); Callum Smith vs. Lenin Castillo, light heavyweights
  • Prediction: Joshua UD 12
  • Background: Joshua was expected to meet British rival and fellow titleholder Tyson Fury in his next fight, which arguably would be the biggest possible event in boxing. Instead, after Fury was forced to fight Deontay Wilder a third time, Joshua will defend against mandatory challenger Usyk. Joshua is two fights removed from the biggest nightmare of his career, a stunning seventh-round knockout loss against Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019 that cost him his belts and raised questions about his toughness. He responded by outpointing an ill-prepared Ruiz six months to regain his titles and right his ship. He then blew out Kubrat Pulev in nine rounds this past December, his most-recent fight. Usyk is trying to follow in the footsteps of Evander Holyfield and David Haye, cruiserweight titleholders who went on to become heavyweight champion. The 2012 Olympic gold medalist from Ukraine has fought twice as a heavyweight, stopping Chazz Witherspoon in seven rounds in October 2019 and defeating Derek Chisora by a decision in a competitive fight a year later. He has the ability to compete with Joshua but a size disadvantage might be an issue, although his handlers insist he has grown into the division. Joshua is 6-foot-6, 240-plus pounds; Usyk is 6-3 and last fought at 217ÂĽ. The winner on Saturday could face the winner of the Oct. 9 Fury-Wilder fight.

Also fighting this weekend: Kenshiro Teraji (18-0, 10 KOs) will defend his WBC junior flyweight title against Masamichi Yabuki (12-3, 11 KOs) on Wednesday in Kyoto, Japan (no TV in U.S.).

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Oleksandr Usyk promoter: ‘Oleksandr is a natural heavyweight now’

Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter said former 200-pound champ Oleksandr Usyk ‘is a natural heavyweight’ going into his fight against Anthony Joshua.

Many believe Anthony Joshua’s size advantage over Oleksandr Usyk will be too much for the Ukrainian to overcome next Saturday in London.

After all, Joshua, 6-foot-6 and 240-plus pounds, is a massive heavyweight while Usyk moved up from cruiserweight – 200-pound limit — less than two years ago. The 6-3 Usyk weighed only 217.25 against Derek Chisora last October, a fight he won by decision.

That’s one reason Joshua is about a 2½-1 favorite. Is Usyk’s mission all but hopeless?

Well, his promoter, Alexander Krassyuk, insists that his client is not a blown up cruiserweight going into his third fight at heavyweight. And he believes the fight will come down to skill, anyway.

“He has been working hard … building his body for the heavyweight division, and he’s a true heavyweight now,” Krassyuk told ESPN. “No one can say he is a cruiserweight fighting as a heavyweight like Chris Byrd was.

“Oleksandr is a natural heavyweight now.”

And he has confidence in the ability of Usyk, who is No. 5 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list.

“Boxers can just throw a punch to the chin and hope to get lucky, and they might be once out of 10, but can they do it 10 times in a row?” Krassyuk said. “You have to box and win each and every round to win the title. Boxing is the art of defense first and foremost, landing punches and not getting anything back.

“Footwork is the basis for throwing punches and defending. This is very important for any fighter, and Oleksandr is very good at this.”

Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) and Usyk (18-0, 13 KOs) will meet at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on DAZN.