Anthony Joshua has once again weighed-in heavier than his rival Oleksandr Usyk. At today’s official weigh-in, WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight ruler Usyk scaled a lean 221.5, while Joshua came in at 244.5 pounds.
What a final few months of heavyweight action we could get here in 2022. With the return of former WBC heavyweight ruler Deontay Wilder, we now have, after Saturday night’s big one in Saudi Arabia, three intriguing heavyweight bouts to look forward to: Andy Ruiz-Luis Ortiz on September 4, Joe Joyce-Joseph Parker on September 24, and then Wilder’s ring return, against Robert Helenius, on October 15.
We could be in for a special final quarter as far as this year’s remaining boxing schedule goes. There will be additional fights to come before 2022 is over and done with, yet right now, there are around six potential classics that range from mega-fight on down.
Saturday’s fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua aside, and the winner against Tyson Fury aside, the biggest fight that could be made in today’s heavyweight division is one between Deontay Wilder and Joshua.
Fight Week preparations for the Rage on the Red Sea stepped up a gear last night, with no fewer than 11 fighters from the historic card taking part in a Public Workout at Jeddah’s Saudia Airlines Club.
Teofimo Lopez Sr is picking Oleksandr Usyk to defeat Anthony Joshua in their rematch this Saturday night. Lopez feels that Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) is the better boxer of the two, and that’ll carry him to victory.
We enjoyed today’s open work-outs in Saudi Arabia, with heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk looking chilled and sharp (check out his insane reflexes via his coin trick if you didn’t tune in live), and with former two-time champ Anthony Joshua also looking pretty relaxed, and now we are just four days’ away from the rematch.
Will Oleksandr Usyk use different tactics in his return fight with Anthony Joshua? Will Usyk weigh-in at a career-heaviest weight? There are plenty of questions going into Saturday night’s massive rematch, and Usyk’s weight is one of the bigger ones.
You cannot really be too harsh on a fighter if, upon heading into a rematch with a guy who previously defeated him, he tells himself just about anything in an effort to build his confidence.
With Tyson Fury’s latest retirement, the Ring Magazine that was formerly held by “The Gypsy King” will be on the line in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night when Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua box their fascinating return fight.