Vitali Klitschko breaks down Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk – Anthony Joshua will face Oleksandr Usyk tonight in a huge heavyweight title clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Joshua was set to face great rival Tyson Fury this summer but must now see off dangerous mandatory challenger Usyk to keep his hopes of claiming all the heavyweight belts alive.
AJ weighed in at a light 240lbs while Usyk was at his heaviest ever of 221lbs at Friday’s weigh-in and now all eyes are on the main event…
- 12-round heavyweight title fight will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium TONIGHT – Saturday, September 25
- Undercard action to begin from 5:30pm UK time, while main event ring walks are set for 9:55pm
- First bell for Joshua vs Usyk is then expected at 10:12pm
- Clash will be for Joshua’s WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles
- It will be shown on Sky Sports Box Office – their pay-per-view coverage will start from 6pm and will cost £24.95
- You can live stream all the action from the Sky Sports Box Office app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device
BETTING SPECIAL – GET ANTHONY JOSHUA AT 25/1 TO BEAT OLEKSANDR USYK OR 60-1 TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6
Joshua v Usyk: Undercard results
- MAIN EVENT: Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk – for WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles
- Lawrence Okolie def. Dilan Prasovic, TKO
- Campbell Hatton def. Sonni Martinez, decision
- Callum Smith def. Lenin Castillo, KO
- Florian Marku def. Maxim Prodan, split decision
- Christopher Ousley def. Khasan Baysangurov, majority decision
1 of 3
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk – Round Two
Joshua landed a nice left hook that was the firs significant hit of the round and he followed that up with a smooth up and down combo.
Usyk is staying in Joshua’s face and offering a lot of volume, even if some of it is just to keep AJ guessing.
The Ukrainian certainly grew into the round, but it seems like Joshua is landing the more noteworthy shots.
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk – Round One
Usyk landed the first blow out of the traps but Joshua responded with a right hand instantly before both men reverted to feeling each other out.
Usyk’s body movement was supremely busy, but AJ appears up for the task and is padding him with his jab.
Joshua had to eat a stiff left hook half way through the round but Joshua tagged Usyk’s body with a nice right hand before the round was up and applied the pressure late on.
Both fighters have made their entrances and Michael Buffer is making the introductions
Usyk was all business during his entrance, not even entertaining the fireworks as he kept the lid down on his custom jacket.
Joshua was the complete opposite as he was all smiles playing to the fireworks, sparklers and fire as the crowd gave him a heroes reception.
LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!
SINGING
‘Sweet Caroline’ absolutely took over the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Now we’re onto the national anthems and, predictably, the Ukrainian anthem is being booed out of the stadium.
Becky Hill sings ‘God Save The Queen’ and the atmosphere is at fever pitch!
FINAL PREP
The work is done, Anthony Joshua will be making his way to the ring shortly…
CRACKLING
The atmosphere inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is absolutely electric and fans cannot wait.
Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk will be making their ring walks imminently!
Tony Bellew predicts Joshua vs Usyk
Tony Bellew, who as retired by Usyk at cruiserweight: “It’s pretty clear he [Usyk] not going to try and go in there and blast him out, that’s not in his arsenal.
“What is in his arsenal is fantastic judgement of distance and an amazing set of feet. He will have to try to frustrate AJ, counter everything he does.
“But AJ’s plan will be to hit him often and hit him hard, simple as that, and just get on him. You can’t go in the water without getting wet.
“AJ knows there will be times when he is going to get hit, when it is difficult for him, but ultimately he will come through in the second half of the fight, I think.
“He will find a way to figure out Oleksandr Usyk and show again why he is the best heavyweight in the world.”
Verdict – Joshua win
Vitali Klitschko is in the house
The heavyweight legend says Oleksandr Usyk has “never come up against someone as big and good as Anthony Joshua… but let’s wait and see.”
Anthony Joshua’s final preparations…
STARS ARE OUT
Luther star Idris Elba is in attendance here at Tottenham Hotspur to cheer on Anthony Joshua.
It’s nearly time…
After Lawrence Okolie and Callum Smith blitzed their opponents, Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk are set to do battle in the next 30 minutes or so. The final preparation is underway.
Some last words of encouragement from Vasyl Lomachenko to Oleksandr Usyk
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Big John Fury is backing Anthony Joshua against Oleksandr Usyk
“Usyk won’t be able to hit hard enough to bother him because he’s too small. He’ll walk straight through.
“I think AJ will stop him quicker than anybody else. I think AJ will walk straight through him. I do.
“One’s a cruiserweight, one’s bulking up. And if he bulks up to try and meet him head-on, forget about it. That’s why there’s weight classes, ain’t they. A good big one will always beat a good little one. And AJ is a good big one.”
LONDON CALLING
Anthony Joshua is back fighting in front of a capacity crowd in his home city for the first time since 2018.
‘AJ’ knocked out Alexander Povetkin in devastating fashion that night and a year before that stopped Wladimir Klitschko.
But you may not know the Olympic medallist also nearly had an altercation with his brother, Vitali, right after the fight..
Chris Eubank Jr tells Campbell Hatton to ‘go to Mexico and learn’ after his controversial win
“Go away, go to Mexico, go to the small shows, build your record, build your experience, and then come back and do all this.”
WHO ARE YA?
What do we know about Oleksandr Usyk, besides the bizarre outfits, exceptional skills and crazy haircuts?
Get the lowdown on the ma trying to take Anthony Joshua’s world heavyweight titles from him NEXT with this handy guide below.
UP NEXT
We have the main event up next and David Haye is backing Anthony Joshua to stop Oleksandr Usyk and defend his world heavyweight titles.
Speaking to SecondsOut: “AJ knocks Usyk out very conclusively. Left, right, jab, right cross that puts Usyk down or out, and then it’s done.
“One hundred percent inside six rounds. If it does go past six rounds, it’s because AJ wants it to go past six rounds.”
HOT SAUCE
Lawrence Okolie defends his WBO cruiserweight title with consummate ease in his first defence.
Dilan Prasovic was overmatched and overpowered by the Hackney-native, who calls for either Mairis Breidis or Ilungu Mukabu next!
ROUND THREE
Okolie wants to get this done and he is using his physicality where he can to lean on and batter the challenger.
Prasovic was potentially saved by the bell in round two and he clinches where possible to clear his head.
The Montenegrin is trying to tie Okolie up at every possible opportunity, but it means coming in close and he eats another huge right hand!
He fails to make the count after a left hook to the body and the contest is waved off!
ROUND TWO
The two men are content to grapple here in the early part of the contest, perhaps feeling one another out.
Okolie again is using his lead hand really well to back Prasovic up where possible and command centre ring when he can.
A huge right hand floors the challenger and he is in serious trouble here in the second!
A booming counter right lands AGAIN with ten seconds to spare and that is a dominant round for the champion.
ROUND ONE
Bright start by Okolie as he spears his man with a long, lead jab and evades several leaping left hooks.
As is often the case, the size difference is evident here as the Hackney-native roughs up Prasovic up close.
Referee Steve Grey may have a job on his hands this evening as the close encounters up close are broken up with regular occurrence.
Trainer Shane McGuigan in the corner wants the world champion to work his opponent onto his right hand.
HERE COMES THE SAUCE
Up next, Lawrence Okolie will defend his WBO cruiserweight title against Dilan Prasovic.
The Brit won the title earlier this year with an emphatic knockout of Krysztof Glowacki, can he repeat the feat in his first defence?
BRUTAL HONESTY
Campbell Hatton secured the win here tonight against Sonny Martinez, but the youngster was critical of his display.
“I’m not happy with my performance at all. I’m better than that. It’s a big occasion with big pressure.
“There are positives and definitely negatives.”
Campbell Hatton def. Sonni Martinez – 58-57
Actual boos rang out around Wembley when the decision was announced. Precious few people thought Hatton won that fight but, the old adage of fighters getting favourable decision at home may have rung true.
