Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua 2 WILL be broadcast on Sky Sports in the UK after all on Saturday August 20.
So those media reports from a couple of weeks ago were correct, and Joshua will work with his old dance partner one last time before that exclusive global partnership with streaming platform DAZN kicks in.
When AJ announced earlier this summer that he was signing with DAZN, it was assumed the deal would begin with the Usyk rematch. But it transpired the rights for this one were open to the highest bidder.
Sky Sports subsequently topped DAZN in a bidding war and they will now air the PPV from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia next month.
Usyk vs Joshua 2 PPV price raises eyebrows
Sky reportedly had to pay a pretty penny to beat DAZN and secure the rights to the world heavyweight title rematch, and the price of the PPV subsequently raised a few eyebrows when it was revealed on Wednesday.
Recent Joshua fights have generally retailed at around the £24.95 price point in the UK and Ireland, but this time the price is hiked up to £26.95. Inflation or the cost of the rights? You decide.
What is at stake in Usyk vs Joshua 2?
It’s difficult to imagine more being at stake in a boxing match. These two will fight again with the IBF, WBA and WBO world heavyweight titles on the line. All currently held by Usyk after he dethroned AJ with a brilliant performance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last September.
The really big carrot though is the potential for the winner to then meet WBC, Ring magazine and lineal heavyweight king Tyson Fury in an enormous unification match.
Remember there has not been an undisputed world heavyweight champion in boxing since Lennox Lewis managed the feat by overcoming Evander Holyfield in November 1999.
