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Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 weigh-ins LIVE: Heavyweights hit scales ahead of Saudi Arabia fight
Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk tipped the scales today, one day out from their seismic heavyweight title rematch in Saudi Arabia. Eleven months on from their first clash, Joshua and Usyk will meet again as the Briton looks to win back the belts that he lost to the unbeaten Ukrainian in London. Jeddah will be the site of their highly-anticipated rematch, which marks a crossroads moment in the career of Joshua.
After the British star, 32, lost his titles in June 2019 with a shocking stoppage defeat by Andy Ruiz Jr, “AJ” regained the gold just six months later with a decision victory over the Mexican-American. That rematch also took place in Saudi Arabia – in Riyadh – and saw Joshua rise to the occasion to avoid back-to-back defeats, but the pressure to do so again is on, ahead of Saturday’s ‘Rage On The Red Sea’. No man has ever beaten Usyk during the 35-year-old’s professional career, and he handily outpointed Joshua last September. When asked whether retirement would be on the cards for Joshua in the case of another loss, the Briton said this week: “It’s up to me at the end of the day, it’s not up to anyone else what I do with my career. It’s more of a personal decision.”
The final event before Saturday’s fight was today’s weigh-ins, with former undisputed cruiserweight champion Usyk coming in half-a-pound heavier than the 220lbs that he weighed last September – despite beliefs that he had bulked up this time around. In comparison, AJ today hit the scales at 244lbs – four pounds heavier than in his loss to Usyk last year. Re-live updates from the weigh-ins here:
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
Joshua and Usyk clash in Saudi Arabia on Saturday
Usyk dethroned Joshua as unified heavyweight champion last year
Ukrainian outpointed Briton to take the titles in London
Joshua weighed 240lbs at the time; ex-cruiserweight champ Usyk was 220lbs
Joshua is 244lbs for rematch, while Usyk comes in at 220lbs again
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
13:31 , Alex Pattle
Here’s a recap of today’s weigh-ins:
How heavy is Anthony Joshua ahead of Oleksandr Usyk rematch?
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
15:10 , Alex Pattle
“I’m 100 per cent ready for 12 rounds and anything shorter than that is a bonus,” said Joshua at the weigh in at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
He and Usyk engaged in a lengthy face-off before clasping hands in mutual respect and turning away, with Usyk adding a thumbs up for good measure.
When asked what should be read into their extended eyeballing, Joshua said: “Not much, it was just a face-off.
“I always say that for me personally face-offs don’t mean any anything. It’s about the bell ringing. Face-offs don’t win fights.”
More here:
Anthony Joshua prepared to go the distance with Oleksandr Usyk
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
13:26 , Alex Pattle
Anthony Joshua accepts that his career is on the line when he faces Oleksandr Usyk in Saturday’s world heavyweight title rematch in Jeddah.
A fight delayed by Russia’s invasion of Usyk’s native Ukraine will see Joshua attempt to reclaim the belts he lost to his rival on a passive night at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium almost a year ago.
That decisive points decision registered his second professional defeat, having been stopped by Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019, and another setback would place him on the periphery as Usyk and Tyson Fury battle it out as the division’s elite.
Even if he uses more effective tactics, few are backing Joshua to prevail at the 10,000-capacity King Abdullah Sports City Arena and the 32-year-old has already suggested he could walk away from the sport if he falls to Usyk once more.
“Everything is at stake. It’s a big fight, it’s a big night,” Joshua told the PA news agency.
More here:
‘Everything is at stake’: Anthony Joshua fighting for career against Oleksandr Usyk
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
13:20 , Alex Pattle
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
13:19 , Alex Pattle
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
13:18 , Alex Pattle
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
13:14 , Alex Pattle
Joshua on what he thought during the staredown: “Not much. I always say, for me personally, face-offs don’t mean nothing. It’s just about the bell ringing and us throwing leather really. Face-offs don’t win fights.”
Joshua on his and Usyk’s weights: “I’ll be honest, all this stuff don’t matter. It’s just about the fight.”
Final thoughts: “I’m just ready for 12 rounds, 100 per cent, and anything shorter than that is a bonus.”
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
13:12 , Alex Pattle
Usyk on his weight: “You see, your expectations are not met every time.”
On what he saw during his staredown with Joshua: “Myself, my reflection.”
On tomorrow’s fight: “We’re gonna see [what happens].”
A message to Ukraine: “Thank you very much, God help us.”
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
13:08 , Alex Pattle
Next up is Usyk...
The Ukrainian weighs in at 220lbs again, but half-a-pound heavier than in the pair’s first clash!
That is surprising.
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
13:07 , Alex Pattle
Joshua tips the scales first.
The Briton comes in at 244lbs, four heavier than last September!
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
12:59 , Alex Pattle
Joshua and Usyk should take to the stage fairly shortly.
A reminder that Joshua weighed in at 240lbs for the pair’s first fight, while Usyk was 221lbs.
The Ukrainian looks to have bulked up ahead of tomorrow’s rematch; soon we’ll find out by how much.
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
12:54 , Alex Pattle
Heavyweights Filip Hrgovic and Zhilei Zhang make their way to the stage now.
Zhang hits the scales at 277lbs – a hefty man! Hrgovic is just shy of 243lbs.
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
12:48 , Alex Pattle
Callum Smith and Mathieu Bauderlique are out now, ahead of their light-heavyweight clash tomorrow.
Bauderlique weighs in at 174lbs, with former super-middleweight champion Smith just a few ounces heavier!
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
12:45 , Alex Pattle
Badou Jack, now 38 years old, emerges ahead of his cruiserweight bout against Richard Rivera.
Rivera tips the scales at 194lbs, with Jack following at 199lbs.
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
12:42 , Alex Pattle
Ben Whittaker and Petar Nosic are up first and make weight for their light-heavyweight contest. Then follow super-lightweights Ziyad Almaayouf and Jose Alatorre.
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
12:29 , Alex Pattle
Here is a look at the full card, as we wait for the first fighters to emerge:
Oleksandr Usyk (C) vs Anthony Joshua (heavyweight)
Filip Hrgovic vs Zhilei Zhang (heavyweight)
Callum Smith vs Mathieu Bauderlique (light-heavyweight)
Ben Whittaker vs Petar Nosic (light-heavyweight)
Ramla Ali vs Crystal Garcia Nova (women’s super-bantamweight)
Badou Jack vs Richard Rivera (cruiserweight)
Andrew Tabiti vs Tyrone Spong (heavyweight)
Daniel Lapinvs Jozef Jurko (light-heavyweight)
Ziyad Almaayouf vs Jose Alatorre (super-lightweight)
Who is fighting on Joshua vs Usyk 2 undercard?
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
12:15 , Alex Pattle
The undercard weigh-ins should begin any moment now!
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
12:06 , Alex Pattle
The selection process for Joshua’s new coach, a process that took the Briton across the pond, generated speculation and intrigue in equal measure. It became arguably the most curious narrative of the build-up to the rematch. Eventually, Robert Garcia became the newest addition to Joshua’s team, the man tasked with reversing the result of last year’s showdown in London and doing what no coach has done: finding a way past Usyk.
With Joshua’s long-time trainer Rob McCracken having stepped away from the 32-year-old’s coaching set-up, Angel Fernandez will take on a more prominent role alongside Garcia.
But make no mistake, any credit or blame for the result of Joshua’s rematch with Usyk will be placed on the shoulders of Garcia and Joshua, much more so than on those of Fernandez.
Full piece:
Robert Garcia must solve Joshua’s problems to solve Usyk puzzle
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
11:59 , Alex Pattle
Eddie Hearn wanted to be candid. When asked why the biggest boxing match of the year was being held in Jeddah rather than New York, Las Vegas or London, the answer was clear.
“The problem at the moment is no one wants to be honest,” said Anthony Joshua’s longtime promoter. “I’m very comfortable, particularly in boxing, to make decisions like that. It’s a prize fight where, contractually, we have to go to the venue that ultimately creates the most amount of revenue for this fight – whether AJ likes it or not.”
A big sporting event being sold to the highest bidder is nothing new clearly, but the many critics of the staging of this fight would argue something else is at play when the eyes of the world descend on Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
“I don’t know what that is,” Joshua said when asked whether his blockbuster world heavyweight title rematch against Oleksandr Usyk was the latest in a growing list of examples of sportswashing on the global sporting stage.
Fulll article:
Boxing looks away from sportswashing accusations ahead of Joshua vs Usyk
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
11:56 , Steve Bunce
Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk will be far from the jeers, cheers, bullets, death and their own dreams when the first bell sounds for their fight in Jeddah on Saturday night.
It has been nearly a year since Usyk outpointed Joshua in front of 67,000 bemused fans in north London; a lot has happened in the life and times of both since that night at Spurs.
Usyk has been armed and dangerous and praying to survive in a brutal war in his beloved Ukraine homeland. He is a national idol with a difference.
Joshua has spent 11 months searching for answers and changing his team and his mind for a fight he has to win.
Full article:
Anthony Joshua eyes revenge and redemption in Oleksandr Usyk rematch
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
11:53 , Jack Rathborn
It’s been a long, arduous journey for Oleksandr Usyk since becoming world heavyweight champion to what promises to be a historic night in Jeddah on Saturday. A mercurial talent, elevating the sport over the last decade by rising through the divisions with a combination of mesmerising angles and majestic footwork, which left Anthony Joshua in a daze at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last September.
But while Usyk pens another absorbing chapter to the rich history of the heavyweight division, this fascinating talent has shouldered the burden of his status around the world as Ukraine fights for freedom in the war against Russia.
“I’m motivated by the people of Ukraine, who are struggling hard to defend our independence, to defend our freedom and defend our culture, which other people want to demolish and destroy,” said Usyk.
Full article:
Oleksandr Usyk represents hope as Ukraine continues fight for freedom
Usyk vs Joshua 2 weigh-ins LIVE
11:46 , Alex Pattle
Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk will tip the scales today, one day out from their seismic heavyweight title rematch in Saudi Arabia. Eleven months on from their first clash, Joshua and Usyk will meet again as the Briton looks to win back the belts that he lost to the unbeaten Ukrainian in London. Jeddah will be the site of their highly-anticipated rematch, which marks a crossroads moment in the career of Joshua.
After the British star, 32, lost his titles in June 2019 with a shocking stoppage defeat by Andy Ruiz Jr, “AJ” regained the gold just six months later with a decision victory over the Mexican-American. That rematch also took place in Saudi Arabia – in Riyadh – and saw Joshua rise to the occasion to avoid back-to-back defeats, but the pressure to do so again is on, ahead of Saturday’s ‘Rage On The Red Sea’. No man has ever beaten Usyk during the 35-year-old’s professional career, and he handily outpointed Joshua last September. When asked whether retirement would be on the cards for Joshua in the case of another loss, the Briton said this week: “It’s up to me at the end of the day, it’s not up to anyone else what I do with my career. It’s more of a personal decision.”
The final event before Saturday’s fight will be today’s weigh-ins, with former undisputed cruiserweight champion Usyk expected to come in heavier than the 221lbs that he weighed last September – compared to AJ’s 240lbs at the time.
