Fight week has finally arrived! The blockbuster is back for a second edition this Saturday, as Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk puts his heavyweight titles back on the line against our guy AJ.
Usyk will look to cement his place as a heavyweight great, while Joshua bids to complete his road to redemption and become a three-time world heavyweight champion.
With Usyk taking the win by a unanimous points decision at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last September, Saturday’s rematch heads out to the desert, as the bout takes place at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
AJ knows the country all too well, having come back from a shock defeat against Andy Ruiz Jr., to then win the rematch out in Riyadh.
Styles Collide
Providing a classy performance in the first fight to overthrow Joshua, Usyk’s game plan was much like it has been his entire career: using sharp footwork and southpaw style to create awkward angles for Joshua to return anything of note.
Having been snubbed for his lack of size compared to the towering Joshua, Usyk troubled his opponent at certain points in the fight but couldn’t finish off the job.
That didn’t matter though, as AJ’s switch of tactics raised the eyebrows of fans, commentators and fellow boxers and coaches, looking to fight on the back foot and out work ‘The Cat’.
Despite getting some joy in the middle portion of the bout, his interesting game plan has seen him make wholesale changes in the lead up to the rematch.
Splitting from long-time coach and close friend Rob McCracken, AJ went across the Atlantic to form his new team in Robert Garcia and Angel Fernandez.
Not only this, but since the change in trainer, Joshua has also moved his camp from Sheffield to the high-performance centre in Loughborough.
Possessing standout power and timing, will AJ go back to his more traditional style of boxing, or will the new set-up showcase a completely new side of him we haven’t seen before?
Don’t Miss It
As rumours build that the winner could go on to fight the recently unretired Tyson Fury and unify all four belts, the pressure will be right on both men…
With the undercard set to begin at 5PM UK time, ring walks for Usyk v Joshua II are expected at 9PM.
Where are you watching it this Saturday?! Whoever you’re backing, make sure you’re locked into @jdsports for loads of behind the scenes access to fight week and the main event!
Not stopping there, we’ve linked up with Klarna and on Saturday, we’ll be heading to Box Park in Croydon for the ultimate watch party with the JD influencer fam. Catch the action from Box Park over on @jdofficial.
