Via Jack Tiernan: Eddie Hearn has confirmed that Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr Usyk 2 will head to the UK in April at either Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium or Wembley Stadium.
Boxing Matchroom promoter Hearn told ESPN he’s considering those two locations for a Joshua-Usyk II rematch in April. Packing 100,000 fans in Wembley Stadium would be ideal, but that will depend on whether the UK government allows crowds to gather.
Tottenham is where Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) beat Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) four months ago on September 25 in a unanimous 12th round win for him to claim the IBF, WBA heavyweight title & WBO.
Joshua, 32, has repeatedly said he doesn’t want to step aside for Usyk to face WBC champion Tyson Fury for the undisputed championship.
That would be noble and smart for Joshua as he would be able to secure himself a hefty salary and a fighting chance for the undisputed championship.
The way Joshua is doing it, it’s likely he’ll be picked a second time by Usyk in front of his own boxing fans in London.
Joshua needs an open mind
The second loss will make it VERY difficult for Joshua to come back, but that depends on his mindset. As long as Joshua is open about suffering one more loss, he should be fine. For example, look at Dereck Chisora, who is a boxer who has lost many times, and he is still extremely popular in the UK.
He’ll need to take on someone like Deontay Wilder in a losing group where winners face winners Usyk vs. Fury to win the undisputed championship in late 2022 or early 2023.
“In April, you can expect to see Joshua and Usyk and maybe even Whyte versus Fury in April,” Eddie Hearn told. Boxing in the match. “Alex Krassyuk called me just before this Zoom session and I said I would call him back in 20 minutes. So we’re working on the date and location for that fight. Just waiting. ”
Joshua should step aside
Again, Joshua should do the right thing and step aside to let Fury and Usyk fight for the undisputed championship, but you can’t blame AJ for being selfish.
He is trying to rebuild his career quickly as he did after his loss to Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019. It worked for Joshua once to get straight into a rematch, so maybe it will work again. If not, there is always a losing match with Deontay for Joshua.
“Tyson Fury is the world’s linear heavyweight champion and I believe he’s the best heavyweight champion in the world,” Max Kellerman told Max on boxing.
“There is a legitimate dispute for his throne. What about an undisputed world heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk or Anthony Joshua? ”
“It has to happen already. The heavyweight division is what makes boxing grow, and having an undisputed champion will help the sport grow a lot, I think. Not to mention, these are great wits inside the ring,” said Mike Coppinger.
“Fury owes Dillian Whyte a fight, and Usyk owes Joshua a rematch. But there is some effort behind the scenes to allow both Whyte and Joshua to step aside so we can let Fury and Usyk continue into the first half of 2022.
“Will it happen? I’m not sure. I thought it was a fascinating fight and if anything I learn, I won’t doubt Usyk again. I counted him against Joshua and he made me look stupid. So I wouldn’t count him against Fury with those quick, smart feet,” Coppinger said.
“No, he’s going to have a chance with Usyk, but I don’t understand stepping aside here,” Kellerman said. “I think Joshua-Usyk is an interesting rematch.
“I think Tyson Fury has an interesting fight in the interim [against Whyte], and which leads me to something else here. Let’s say they rematch, Usyk & Joshua, and Joshua loses again.
AJ vs. Deontay Wilder
“For me, you can have a losing draw between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder, even if they both lose. Who cares?
“It wouldn’t be as big if it were the world heavyweight championship and both were as unbeaten as we used to think we could be.
“But it’s still a big event, you’d have to think it’s a big event, and it promises to be very exciting and dramatic. Joshua versus Deontay Wilder,” Kellerman said.
Coppinger said during a mock fight between former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder and Joshua. “Deontay Wilder is now 36 years old. It’s a now or never kind of thing, and maybe it will show boxers and fans that losses don’t matter.
“I know Floyd Mayweather 50-0, the O right now is very important because a lot of fighters admire Mayweather, but losing doesn’t matter. Joshua and Wilder, two of the biggest boxers in the sport. Wilder is now also a big star in the sports world.
“You can fill Wembley Stadium and two vulnerable boxers. I also like this one. Let’s make it happen,” Coppinger said of a possible fight between Joshua and the recently defeated Wilder.
“Yes, like there won’t be more than 100,000 people at Wembley Stadium? Yes, there will be, and just ask yourself,” said Kellerman.
“They’re charging you $75 on pay-per-view and it’s a game of ding-ding, first-round Joshua and Deontay Wilder. Are you watching? Yeah, and you’re watching it live if you’re a fighting fan,” Kellerman said.
A losing round is the perfect situation for Joshua as he can make huge money playing the twice-beaten Wilder at Wembley Stadium. UK fans would love to see Joshua and Wilder bomb.
Wilder has seemed hesitant about fighting Joshua in the past, but he may be willing to do so now that his career has sunk to its lowest point following a direct knockout loss to Fury.
In addition to the winner Usyk vs. Fury, there’s no bigger fight for Joshua than the losers fight with Wilder. We’ll see what happens. Hopefully Joshua keeps an open mind about taking on another loss to Usyk and doesn’t do something hasty like retiring.
