Joshua v Usyk 25th September - Tottenham Stadium

[Master]

Anthony Joshua vs OIeksandr Usyk tickets to cost up to £2000 as Brit defends world titles

Fans wanting the best seats for Anthony Joshua's title defence against Oleksandr Usyk will have to pay an eye-watering £2,000 for the privilege.

The Brit will defend his unified heavyweight titles at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against his mandatory challenger on September 25.

Joshua was pencilled in to face Tyson Fury on August 14 in Saudi Arabia, but an arbitration ruling forced Fury out of the bout in favour of a trilogy with Deontay Wilder.

But he will instead put his belts on the line against former undisputed cruiserweight ruler Usyk.

And tickets for Joshua's bout with Usyk will go on sale next Tuesday, or Monday for Matchroom Fight Pass members, and will be priced at £40, £60, £80, £100, £150, £200, £400, £600 and £2000 for VIPs.

“The date is set and we are fully locked in," said Joshua during an announcement video earlier this month.

"September 25, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, I put it all on the line again and it’s time to defend my crown. We are two Olympic Gold medallists who have fought our way to the top and never avoided challenges.

"The stadium is exceptional, the atmosphere will be electric, I’m honoured to be the first person to fight in such an awe inspiring venue. The stage is set and I am ready to handle business.”

Joshua is a heavy favourite to beat Usyk, despite the Ukrainian being considered one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world.

Both men are Olympic gold medalists from the 2012 London games, and Usyk was the undisputed cruiserweight champion after winning the World boxing Super Series and beating the likes of Mairis Briedis and Tony Bellew.

But since moving up to heavyweight, Usyk hasn't looked the world-beater he was at his peak, struggling to get past Derek Chisora in his latest outing last October.

Usyk was expected to face Joe Joyce in an interim title bout while Joshua faced Fury, but a title bout was ordered by the WBO immediately once that bout fell through.

Matchroom Boxing are expecting a capacity crowd to attend the event as the UK adjusts to life without coronavirus restrictions following the success of last week's reopening.

This will also be the first boxing event to take place on the new pitch at the North London stadium, with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy admitting that he is delighted to finally host a fight of this calibre after a long delay during the pandemic.

“This is a huge occasion for Tottenham Hotspur Stadium," Levy said ahead of hosting the contest.

" Anthony Joshua is an icon in the world of sport and to have him fight here in London N17, against a top opponent in Oleksandr Usyk, will be amazing for the area of Tottenham.

"This event will once again showcase the stadium’s ability to take the hosting of world-class sporting occasions to the next level – we cannot wait for September 25.”

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/boxi...cid=entnewsntp

[Master]

Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk: Eddie Hearn wants Joshua to ‘destroy’ Ukrainian

Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk will be fighting each other at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September and top promoter Eddie Hearn has been speaking about how he wants Joshua to come out on top on the night.

Usyk will be relishing the chance to cause an upset and take Joshua’s belts away from him, but it won’t be easy.

The Brit was due to be fighting Fury but will have to defeat Usyk first and this gives him more motivation to make sure he comes out on top.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has been huge in setting up this fight and it is clear he wants to pave the way for Joshua to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

The odds on the fight show that Anthony Joshua is the clear favourite, and this makes sense due to him holding most of the heavyweight belts.

The Brit facing the Ukranian means that he will have a lot of support, and Hearn has not kept quiet when discussing how he wants the fight to go.

Talking on radio station TalkSport about the fight, Hearn said: “AJ is still a student of the game and he wants to prove to people that he can beat people like Oleksandr Usyk, he can outskill him. That’s difficult, I don’t want to see him actually overcomplicate this fight.

“I want him to see him go in and destroy the guy!”

Not only has Hearn stated how much he wants Joshua to win, he also sounds pretty confident that Joshua can easily win the bout.

These words from the promoter will probably motivate Usyk as much as it will motivate Joshua as he will want to prove the doubters and critics wrong. Causing a big upset on Joshua’s home turf would be the most perfect way to do this.

With only a couple of months until the fight, expectation and excitement is building, with many hoping the fight will be a good spectacle.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/boxi...cid=entnewsntp

[Master]

Anthony Joshua hints he will weigh in lighter for Oleksandr Usyk fight.

Joshua has revealed that he is 'looking to trim' ahead of his showdown with Usyk, labelling his world title defence as 'a fight for the brain'

Anthony Joshua has revealed that he is 'looking trim' ahead of his world title clash with Oleksandr Usyk next month.

The British heavyweight will defend his unified world titles against the dangerous Ukrainian, and he will return to the ring for the first time since his stoppage victory over Kubrat Pulev last December.

Joshua had been planning to fight domestic rival and fellow champion Tyson Fury, but talks broke down after Deontay Wilder enforced a trilogy bout with Fury as a result of a contract dispute.

Joshua however is focused on the task at hand and offered an insight into his tactics.

"I'm looking trim for this fight. I'm fighting a guy who is a 12-round fighter. So it would be silly of me to go in there bulky with my muscles screaming for oxygen," he told Sky Sports.

"I've been training like a 15-round fighter in this camp. I will be well-conditioned to fight. That is key. What happens when I train that way? My body adapts and takes its natural form. This is the form it has taken."

"Movement means you are never stationery to get hit. Movement is important. Concentration - when you want to [punch], you lock in, then make a move. You have to make sure your brain works. That can be mentally fatiguing so I am sharpening the mind so that I can concentrate for the 12 rounds.

"Also I practice having the ability to [punch] four times, not just once. It's a fight for the brain. Knowing what you've got in front of you and knowing how to deal with it.

"You can either be aggressive, corner [him], throw everything at it. Or take your time, be clever, then knock [him] out."

Usyk's size has been questioned at the higher weight and power in the blue-ribbon division, despite his superb undefeated record as an undisputed cruiserweight champion before moving up to heavyweight.

And Joshua's power and size will be something that he has not yet encountered, already having slight issues with the aggression and frame of Derek Chisora in his unanimous decision victory back in October last year.

Former British cruiserweight David Haye has revealed that he also believes Joshua will use his 'power and size' to record a 'devastating' victory over Usyk in front of a capacity home crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“If Joshua decides to have a tit-for-tat boxing match in just jabbing and scoring points, then he could have some trouble, but he’s not stupid enough to do that," Haye said.

“He’s just going to use his beautiful jab, and his height & reach advantage, size, and weight advantage, his punch power advantage, and his physical advantage and advantage to receive punches from big heavyweights.

“He’s [Joshua] just better all-around [than Usyk]. It’s just going to be pretty devastating. I’ve seen it in my head. I’ve said it a couple of times before."

Joshua defends his belts on September 25, but has previously revealed he would be willing to 'ditch the belts' in order to secure a domestic dust-up with Fury in the future.

His opponent has also been compared to Muhammad Ali by his promoter Alexander Krassyuk in the build-up to the event, and Krassyuk believes that his 'movement' will cause 'AJ' problems on the night.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxin...ghter-24825596

[Denilson3.0]

A great fight for my boy AJ. We don't have to worry about any great power folding his Chin. Just wear your running Trainers, catch him and lay him out, face down arse cheeks up (Pacquiao "He not gettin up Jim" style)



AJ has every advantage known to man.

• Size.
• Age.
• Pay.
• Location
• Rematch clause.
• Confidentiality clause.
• UKAD watching his back

I say what I see and I don't really rate Uysk very highly but I cannot deny his credentials 'Olympic Champion, Unbeaten and Undisputed Cruiser weight Champion.

Usyk has shown to me that he's not capable of beating a heavyweight better than Hughie Fury in fact make Hughie Fury vs Usyk is a 50/50 fight. The only way to beat cashcows like AJ or Canelo is to stop them or totally school them and Usyk isn't doing either.

Honestly I see AJ destroying him and it won't go past 3 rounds

[Master]

Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk undercard announced as Callum Smith returns

Joshua takes on Usyk on September 25, and a stacked undercard has been announced featuring the return of Callum Smith, Lawrence Okolie defending his cruiserweight world title and fan-favourite welterweight Florian Marku

The undercard for Anthony Joshua's box-office clash with Oleksandr Usyk wil feature the return of Callum Smith and cruiserweight world champion Lawrence Okolie.

Joshua will defend his unified world titles against Usyk who steps up to the blue-ribbon division for the third time since becoming undisputed cruiserweight champion.

Smith has been out of action since his unanimous decision defeat to pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez, and will now step up to light-heavyweight against Lenin Castillo on September 25.

Recently-crowned cruiserweight champion Okolie also makes his ring return following a crushing stoppage victory over Krzystof Glowacki, when he takes on undefeated Dilan Prasovic in a mandatory defence.

Sky Sports' Adam Smith has previewed the night of action labelling it "exciting" ahead of a Matchroom Boxing show's return to the popular outlet in the UK after Eddie Hearn secured a broadcasting switch to DAZN.

"Joshua vs. Usyk will be an unmissable evening of action, with Lawrence Okolie, Callum Smith and Campbell Hatton all featuring on a bumper bill at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, live on Sky Sports Box Office," Smith said.

"We've followed Lawrence Okolie's career since the start and he'll be determined to light up north London with an explosive defence of his WBO Cruiserweight belt.

"Callum Smith is on a collision course with new World Title rivals, having joined the Light-Heavyweight division, and Campbell Hatton continues his journey up the pro ranks with the help of Matthew and Ricky Hatton.

"AJ and Usyk then take centre stage as two Olympic gold medallists collide in the capital, in a hugely important World Heavyweight Title clash!"

At the top of the bill, Joshua was previously set to face domestic rival Tyson Fury this year in an undisputed clash, but he has been forced into taking his WBO mandatory defence after the 'Gypsy King' was forced to withdraw from the planned contest and take on Deontay Wilder in a trilogy bout.

And the British heavyweight has revealed that he is "looking to trim" and come into the contest lighter in a "fight for the brain" against the tricky Ukrainian.

"I'm looking trim for this fight. I'm fighting a guy who is a 12-round fighter. So it would be silly of me to go in there bulky with my muscles screaming for oxygen," he told Sky Sports.

"I've been training like a 15-round fighter in this camp. I will be well-conditioned to fight. That is key. What happens when I train that way? My body adapts and takes its natural form. This is the form it has taken.

"Also I practice having the ability to [punch] four times, not just once. It's a fight for the brain. Knowing what you've got in front of you and knowing how to deal with it.

"You can either be aggressive, corner [him], throw everything at it. Or take your time, be clever, then knock [him] out."

Later on the card, young star Campbell Hatton is set to feature as he takes on his fourth professional fight, while powerful welterweight and crowd-pleaser Florian Marku makes his return in a rescheduled bout against Maxim Prodan.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxin...-usyk-24836932

[smashup]

This undercard is a fucking piss take, WTF is Campbell Hatton even doing on it and Okolie fighting a guy who's not even top 25 ranked.

Should have had Dillian Whyte & Conor Benn on this undercard.

It's not even available on DAZN in the UK either only on Sky PPV for £24.99

Not that i've paid for a PPV fight in years but Hearns taking the piss bigtime here.

The usual Stub Hub ticket resales were (as usual with Matchroom) at about 3 times face value too.

Why bother to get this in the most state of the art stadium in Europe and offer such a shit card.

The main even will be a cool but the rest of the card doesn't interest me at all.

[SlimTrae]

Usyk is an X factor considering Witherspoon wasn't the best tuneup for a Top notch HW. But then again- these are the fights that sets the tone for an unknown's career. Unknown in his ability to beat a top tier HW let alone a solid champ. SO I am not counting him out.

In fact I remember Holy the cruiser destroyer was constantly berated as too small, not enough power, not fast enough to evade...and look what he went on to do!

This is EXACTLY where Usyk is.

It is not for us to give him the benefit of the doubt- it is for him to be the Holyfield of this era & proves He belongs. In fact I would be ok if he put on a Holy/Bowe I performance and gains respect in a hell fought losing battle.

[Master]

SHAPE OF HIS LIFE Anthony Joshua ready for all out war against Oleksandr Usyk after signing new career deal with Eddie Hearn

ANTHONY JOSHUA shows he is in shape for Oleksandr Usyk after announcing a deal for life with Eddie Hearn.

Saturday’s WBA, IBF and WBO defence against Usyk was scheduled to be the last in AJ’s current contract with Hearn but the 31-year-old superstar has penned a final “career long” deal with the Matchroom stable.

AJ stepped into the ring at Tuesday's public work-out at O2’s Indigo where Usyk entertained the crowd with a masterclass of juggling.

The Brit says he respects Usyk but warned the Ukrainian the fight at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium is all-out war.

Joshua said: “I feel strong and good. I’m mentally and physically conditioned so I should be able to handle the pressure.

"I feel like I have nothing if I don’t win this. It would not be the end of the road but I see getting a win here just the beginning.

“There is no strategy apart from winning. I will hurt someone or beat them until I get the win.

“Boxing needs this fight and the big fights, we have been Saudi and America but when I turned pro I wanted to get British boxing respected.

“Unless you were in America you were not respected but we have credibility now on these shores.

“We respected each other after the fight. I have met him before, in Saudi, with all due respect we are ambassadors for the sport but this is fighting, a warrior sport.

“When I watch the Durans and Haglers, we are going to war, a great fighter has a certain instinct, this is war.”

Unified heavyweight world champ Joshua turned professional with Hearn back in 2013 and stated he was delighted to remain in partnership as he plots his path towards the last remaining WBC crown - held by Tyson Fury.

Joshua said: “We’ve built some great foundations over the years and I appreciate Matchroom – the company, the team, the family business.

“What Matchroom Sport have done is created an environment for boxing fans. The shows that we have managed to put on have been phenomenal. When I walk out to fight, I look around and I’m like ‘mate, this is unbelievable’.

“From where we began, to the middle of the journey, the foundations we have created are phenomenal and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

"I have heard that my signature was hot property. A handshake is good enough for me, but the signature solidifies it and I’m happy where my signature is.”

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/16205...t-eddie-hearn/

[Spicoli]

Maybe it's the scarcity of big fights actually coming off lately but really warmed to this one. Was on the fence but leaning Usyk. At times everything about AJ says 'wound too tight' to me and a guy with the mental..slightly off.. make up of Usyk can find the holes and have the speed mobility and ring intelligence to exploit them. Also interested in AJ playing aggressor or trying to box a bit. Early on AJ the imposer, punch threat and can even see Usyk rattled but honestly I think the whole 'he's too small' is a tad played out. Either way like it a lot.

[imp]

Hatton lost that 5-1.

Pathetic decision.