Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk is set to take place on Saturday September 25 according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
The world heavyweight title showdown has been in the works since the collapse of the planned Fury vs Joshua superfight in May. An announcement is expected imminently and Hearn has now confirmed that the plan is to stage the bout in September.
Speaking during an Instagram Live session with his fans, the Matchroom Boxing supremo said: “Joshua vs Usyk announcement, can’t say two weeks now as you guys are bored of me saying that. September 25 is the date.”
Joshua vs Usyk venue
The venue for Joshua vs Usyk is expected to be the palatial new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, rather than Joshua’s favourite second home at Wembley Stadium. AJ had been slated to meet Kubrat Pulev at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last summer before COVID-19 saw that bout delayed and eventually moved to Wembley Arena.
On the line in Joshua vs Usyk will be AJ’s IBF, WBA and WBO world heavyweight titles, with Joe Joyce expected to take the spot as the next WBO mandatory challenger. Usyk has held that position for the last two years since moving up from cruiserweight.
Olympic kings to meet
The fight on September 25 matches two Olympic champions from London 2012 – Joshua claimed super-heavyweight gold while Usyk took the top step on the podium at heavyweight.
As for TV details, Joshua vs Usyk is the last fight on AJ’s current UK broadcast deal with Sky Sports and will be a pay-per-view on Sky Sports Box Office. His recent bouts have aired on DAZN outside the UK and that is likely to be the case again here.
While Joshua is now locked on Usyk, Fury of course meets Deontay Wilder in their trilogy fight in Las Vegas on Saturday July 24. That after Wilder won an arbitration ruling to force that match and scupper (for now at least) Fury vs Joshua.
