Anthony Joshua v Oleksandr Usyk 2

[Master]

Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko offer Oleksandr Usyk support ahead of Anthony Joshua rematch

Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko have spoken in support of Oleksandr Usyk after the heavyweight champion left Ukraine to train for a rematch with Anthony Joshua.

Usyk had been aiding his home nation’s defence against the ongoing Russian invasion, as have the Klitschko brothers, but the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO champion has taken the opportunity to leave the country and prepare to defend his belts against Joshua, whom he dethroned in September.

The unbeaten Usyk outpointed “AJ” in London, leading the Briton to trigger a rematch clause. A second bout between the pair was expected to take place in spring, but the fight was thrown into doubt as Usyk, 35, returned to Ukraine to assist its war effort. The champion confirmed last week, however, that he would be leaving to begin preparations for a defence against Joshua, which is still expected to be held in May or June.

The Klitschko brothers, both of whom were heavyweight champions during their professional boxing careers, have both addressed the situation in an interview with The Daily Telegraph.

Vitali, who has been mayor of Kyiv since 2014, said: “A very important message could be carried through an event like this. We do not know if in three months we will exist.

“I actually have plans to speak to Oleksandr Usyk to give him advice if he decides to make the fight, to have some special messages that he can put out there.”

Wladimir, meanwhile, said: “There are pros and cons, and it’s a hard decision to make for Oleksandr Usyk, But to have the Ukrainian flag raised and our anthem played and one of our ambassadors of our country out there in the world with the right mindset could be more positive than negative.

“We need support. Since the beginning of the war, the economy is down to nothing, but please don’t forget we are defending democratic principles of freedom and free choice.”

Like Usyk, Vasiliy Lomachenko returned to Ukraine to aid its defence against Russia’s invasion. The former multiple-weight champion will remain in the country for the foreseeable future, though, missing out on a lightweight title shot against George Kambosos Jr as a result.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/boxi...4c57ac6f1b0518

[Master]

Anthony Joshua's world title rematch with Oleksandr Usyk will take place in Saudi Arabia at the end of June, according to reports.

Joshua lost his heavyweight titles to former cruiserweight king Usyk last September. A rematch between the pair has been sought ever since, but it was recently put in jeopardy after Usyk returned to Ukraine to help fight against Russian attacks in the country.

Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn insisted that the rematch would still take place despite the ongoing crisis. Their second fight looked to be heading to London with Wembley and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium being potential candidates to host the bout.

But Saudi Arabia has now forked out a reported £90million to host the rematch with June 25 being the frontrunner date, as claims MailOnline. The price tag for the fight is a third more than the £60million Saudi paid for Joshua's rematch with Andy Ruiz in 2019.

Both fighters recently hinted the rematch would go ahead, with Usyk writing on Instagram: "I decided to start preparing for a rematch with Anthony Joshua. A large number of my friends support me, all the rest of the good and peace, Thank God for everything."

Usyk's training announcement came just three weeks after he put a rematch against Joshua in doubt by stating: "I really don't know when I'm going to be stepping back in the ring. My country and my honour are more important to me than a championship belt."

Joshua has good memories of competing in the Middle Eastern country, having won back his titles against Ruiz in Diriyah. 'AJ' lost his unified titles to short-notice replacement Ruiz six months before their rematch in a huge upset.

Joshua will look to become just the sixth three-time heavyweight champion in boxing history by avenging his loss to Usyk. The Brit has promoted assistant coach Angel Fernandez to his head trainer after being encouraged to ditch longtime coach Rob McCracken after losing to Usyk.

He had been pictured in Dubai training with Anthony Wilson and in the US training with the likes of Virgil Hunter and Ronnie Shields during his search for a new coach. Hearn also admitted he thought it was time for Joshua to "move on" from McCracken ahead of the rematch.

Joshua was being encouraged to step aside from his rematch against Usyk earlier this year to allow an undisputed fight between Tyson Fury and the Ukrainian. Talks of the undisputed clash fell through at the last minute and Fury will now fight WBC mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte next month.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/boxi...590917a475ec04

[Mark TKO]

With the current world climate holding events there is taking the piss and selling out. But they'll hide behind the 'sport is helping to bring attention' argument bollocks.

Both fighters should refuse.

I must be getting old as hypocritical shit like this beginning to bother me a lot....

[nuggetdotcom]

Been away for about 3 months, hospitalised, ok now. Wether its Tottingham or Saudi is worthy of discussion, what completely mystifies me is why is this being paid 50/50? Forgive my naivity but didn't Usyck comprehensively beat AJ for 3 alphabet titles Do the promoters and their 'favoured' fighter call the payday shots? I know there is a lot of money involved but to give Usyck anything other than a majority purse is both insulting and immoral, perhaps the promoters would have been better bribing the judges (like Wilder Fury 1) to get a draw, thus keeping boxing in the corrupt shithole it has descended to. Its easy to say but if I was Usyck I wouldn't chase their dirty dollars, I would quit all the alphabet titles and relax whilst watching AJ get beat in one of the many eliminators. I'm sure Master can explain this situation with a quick call to one of his promoter mates...........

Sorry to sit on the fence

Geoff

[Master]

Fighting for the title and agreeing the Champions terms for rematch and % purse I am sure could be challenged in court by Usyk but it is far easier to accept the conditions of the contract if you can not get better elsewhere.

Rahman was forced to rematch Lennox when he clearly did not want to.

Ruiz accepted the rematch because he was not going to get anything more from Wilder or others.

50% of this purse is more than what Usyk will get anywhere else. Besides if AJ is damaged after the first fight it could be easy money for him.

[Master]

Oleksandr Usyk claims soldiers shot at his house and dragged his neighbours away

Oleksandr Usyk has claimed Russian soldiers dragged his neighbours away after shooting at his house.

Usyk was fighting on the front line against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but has left his home country to prepare for his world heavyweight title defence against Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia this summer. During his time involved in the war, he witnessed a number of horrific occurrences, including watching his neighbours being taken from their home.

He will face Joshua in late June, with the current expected date being June 25 in a purpose-built Saudi Arabian arena after recently deciding to leave the war effort. His fellow fighters Vasily Lomachenko and Yaroslav Amosov both opted to stay in Ukraine and turn down world title fights against George Kambosos Jr and Michael 'Venom' Page respectively.

"I know [Russian soldiers] shot at our house, broke down the gate, and dragged away some of our neighbours," Usyk said in an interview with Czech outlet Profiboxing. "But I don’t know what it looks like there now. We can’t get in touch with anyone. It’s terrible when you run to hide in the basement at every rustle."

Usyk denies having ever shot the AK-47 he was pictured with when he joined the war effort, which took place when he returned from fight negotiations in London back in February. It had looked for a time like Joshua would have to face an interim opponent, but Usyk eventually agreed to the fight after his time on the front lines.

“I came back via Poland," he explained. "It took a day to get to Kyiv. Then another two to see my family and I calmed down a bit. I may have picked up a gun, but that doesn’t mean I would use it, I didn’t think for a moment that I would stay there. This fight ( Anthony Joshua rematch) will be special for me in that respect."

Joshua and Usyk fought in London back in September, with the Ukrainian easily winning by unanimous decision in front of a packed out Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Joshua as champion had negotiated a rematch clause for the fight, and immediately triggered it days later to push through the rematch.

There had been talk of a possible undisputed world heavyweight title fight between Usyk and Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia, but that fell by the wayside. In the meantime, Usyk returned to Ukraine, where he said that he would be willing to do anything, including "killing if necessary" to defend his home country.

"If they will want to take my life, or the lives of my close ones, I will have to do it," Usyk said during a CNN broadcast. "But I don't want that. I don't want to shoot, I don't want to kill anybody, but if they will be killing me, I will have no choice."

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/boxi...16c4916d34432d

[Spicoli]

Garbage having this is Saudi Arabia. Last time I heard of over 80 prisoners being publicly executed via mass beheadings it was with those Isis fellas. Belongs in the U.K end of.