Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua 2 could happen in June according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
It had seemed that Joshua would need instead to take on an interim fight as he waits for the contracted rematch with the Ukrainian star. This after Usyk returned home to fight against the Russian invasion of his homeland.
But now Matchroom supremo Hearn – who promotes Joshua – has issued a much more upbeat message which suggests the showdown could yet happen in high summer after all.
Usyk vs Joshua 2 – when will it happen?
Hearn told TalkSPORT: “‘Is AJ vs Usyk happening now? I actually think it will. I actually think that fight will happen next and it will happen in June.'”
Joshua of course lost his world heavyweight titles to Usyk in their first meeting at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last September. Former cruiserweight king Usyk showed admirable cojones and produced a boxing masterclass to dethrone IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight king Joshua.
Initially Usyk and his team had spoken about their hope that the rematch might be held in Kyiv, but that of course is now impossible with the city under attack from Russian troops.
Instead it is likely that London will be among the front runners to stage the bout, but don’t rule out the Middle East. Remember Saudi Arabia had put up a massive site fee to stage that planned Tyson Fury vs Joshua showdown last August. That bout of course collapsed when Deontay Wilder won a legal challenge to force his trilogy fight with Fury.
Fury vs Joshua still a possibility
Now the potential for Fury vs Joshua remains, with Fury defending his WBC, Ring magazine and lineal titles against fellow Brit Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium on April 23.
If Fury defeats Whyte, and Joshua overcomes Usyk in their rematch, then Fury vs Joshua would again be on the cards with all the heavyweight marbles on the line.
Remember there has not been an undisputed world heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis claimed the biggest prize in sport by defeating Evander Holyfield way back in November 1999.
