LONDON – The rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua for the world heavyweight title will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Aug. 20.
Usyk will be defending the IBF, WBA, WBO titles he claimed from Joshua in beating the British fighter in London in September.
Joshua will fight in Saudi Arabia for the second time, having beaten Andy Ruiz Jr. in the kingdom in December 2019 to reclaim the same belts.
Usyk has been in camp for the rematch since leaving the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in March. He had returned there in February to help defend his country from the invading Russians, as part of the Kyiv Territorial Defense force.
“I have a goal,” Usyk said according to AP, “with the help of the Lord I will complete my mission.”
Usyk, who made the step up from cruiserweight where he was the unified world champion, is from Crimea and chose to stay with Ukraine after Russia annexed the peninsula in 2014.
He outclassed Joshua to win by unanimous decision at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Joshua is looking to become world champion for the third time and has changed trainers ahead of the rematch.
“Fighting championship-level, back to back, has had its pros and cons, but I decide every day to get stronger, to learn from my experiences and grow,” Joshua said.
“A happy fighter is a dangerous fighter and I am the happiest and most motivated I have been.”
A rematch clause was immediately activated but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February cast doubt over when former undisputed cruiserweight champion Usyk would be next back in the ring.
Usyk, 35, returned to Ukraine to fight for his country but was given special dispensation to leave and start preparations for this bout months later with a date and venue now finally confirmed.
The Jeddah Super Dome, which is a 35,000-seater venue, will host the contest and 32-year-old Joshua has made changes in pursuit of becoming world heavyweight champion for a third time.
Long-serving trainer Rob McCracken has moved on and Robert Garcia has been added to his corner to work alongside Angel Fernandez, who was already in place.
It will mark Joshua’s second fight in the kingdom after he wrested back his world titles with a points win over Andy Ruiz Jr in Riyadh in December 2019.
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