The boxing world comes together for the world heavyweight title unification rematch between current reigning champion Oleksandr Usyk and former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua this weekend.
Live from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, the Ukrainian will look to go back-to-back over the British fighter to solidify himself as the number one heavyweight fighter in the world while Joshua will be looking to reclaim his belts and set up a super fight with Tyson Fury.
We'll take a look at the fight and break it down, providing you with our best free betting picks too to try and earn you some extra cash for the rest of the summer.
Boxing Fight information
- Saturday, August 20, 2022
- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah Sport City Stadium
- 12 x 3 minute rounds
- WBA, WBO, IBF World Heavyweight Championships
- Live on DAZN
Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua betting odds
- Oleksandr Usyk - (-210)
- Anthony Joshua - (+175)
This is set to be one of the biggest boxing match-ups of the year andis sure to be entertaining. Many are expecting it to be a close run thing, with reigning champion Usyk seen as the slight favorite heading into the bout.
With an undefeated professional record of 19-0 with 13 knockouts, Usyk is a former undisputed cruiserweight champion who moved up a weight class and dominated Derek Chisora before winning the unified heavyweight title with a unanimous decision win over "AJ" last time out back in September 2021.
His odds see him at -210 with BetUS sports betting mean that you would have to bet $210 to see $100 worth of profit.
On the opposite side of the ring to him will be one of the best heavyweights of his generation, who comes into the bout looking to become a three-time world heavyweight champion.
Having lost his titles and unbeaten record to Andy Ruiz Jr via knockout, Joshua regained them in an immediate rematch in Saudi Arabia six months later with a dominant decision victory. He then defended them again by knocking out Kubrat Pulev at Wembley Stadium, before defeat to Usyk in his last bout. He has a professional record of 24-2 with 22 knockouts.
A +175 underdog with BetOnline sports betting means a $100 bet would see you claim $175 profit should he hand Usyk the first defeat of his professional career.
Usyk vs Joshua boxing preview
Over the course of Joshua vs Usyk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, we saw Usyk absorb Joshua’s best power punches and remain perfectly composed. Usyk was defensively responsible yet still managed to be the aggressor in this fight and it's likely to go that way again.
As the fight went on Joshua made some subtle adjustments from rounds 4-6. However, he didn’t gain much momentum to deal with Usyk’s unpredictable rhythm, which left AJ out of answers by the championship rounds.
AJ tried to outbox one of the most technical boxers in boxing, and it didn’t go his way. As the fight was drawing to an end Usyk was close to finishing Joshua and with more time to prepare and fill into his physique there is every possibility he does it again.
This time around however it's expected that Joshua will come out more aggressively and look to use his size and power more efficiently, the total opposite of how he approached the rematch with Ruiz Jr last time around.
Joshua absolutely has the power to hurt Usyk, especially in the first half of the fight, but he must be wary of punching himself out and hitting thin air because of the movement and speed advantages that Usyk has.
𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐓! It's fight week for the rematch between Anthony Joshua & Oleksandr Usyk 🔥#UsykJoshua2 pic.twitter.com/uUtWkSjqgJ
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) August 15, 2022
Back Usyk to go back-to-back
Joshua cannot and will not be able to outbox Usyk and he will know that after the first fight. Usyk will know it too, and will be looking to use speed, jabs and pressure to keep Joshua within punching distance while also not getting hit.
If he can avoid getting hit clean in the opening rounds, then there is no reason to suggest why this fight will not go the same way as the first bout.
The difference this time however is that Usyk is also well aware that Joshua can fade later in the fight and he also has the power to really hurt him if he goes hard enough, early enough. The likelihood is that he plays it a bit safer and just takes the points, because a slug-fest only benefits Joshua.
If the fight is clean and tidy then Usyk will take a dominant win yet again as the better boxer, but if it becomes a bit wild and more aggressive then there is a real chance that we see an upset take place in Jeddah.
For my money though, it's a safer bet to go with the champion retaining. He's beaten Joshua before, has the blueprint and perfect style to counter whatever Joshua can throw at him and at -210 there is still good value in backing him. If you want a bit of extra value, take him via decision at +185.
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