Billed as “Rage on the Red Sea” in Saudi Arabia, the climatic rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua will be a titanic battle in the heavyweight division. Slated for later this month at the King Abdullah Sports City complex, the fight will feature four different heavyweight titles on the line: WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO. The match will also mark the first defense of Usyk’s world heavyweight titles, whereas it will be Joshua’s twelfth consecutive world heavyweight title fight. This will also be the latter’s latest attempt at becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion.
For this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from each competitor, who will win this fantastic showdown and also some more notes about placing your boxing bets.
A professional fighter with a 19-0 record, Usyk has won almost every title imaginable in professional and amateur boxing. Recognized as the world champion in two weight classes (in addition to his heavyweight titles, he is also the undisputed cruiserweight champion), the 35-year old is in a league of his own. The 2012 Olympic boxing champion, Usyk is one of only three boxers to have unified the cruiserweight world title and become a heavyweight world champion. As of earlier this year, he is also ranked by multiple publications as the world’s second pound-for-pound boxer.
In the leadup to their last confrontation back in September of 2021, many boxing analysts were doubtful about Usyk’s ability to trouble Joshua given the former’s size and perceived power disparity. However, the Ukrainian was able to score a major upset over the champion by knocking him around several times over the course of 12 en route to a unanimous decision victory. Following the fight, Usyk said that he stuck to his game plan after hitting Joshua with some heavy blows and was able to win by doing “his job.” With his fellow countrymen from Ukraine looking on, Usyk will have a lot to fight for in Saudi Arabia in this epic title defense.
Opposing Usyk will be the former champion Joshua who is one of the most well-known heavyweights in the world and also one of the most decorated. Another former Olympic champion in 2012 in the super heavyweight division, the 32-year old is looking to reclaim his throne in Saudi Arabia. Prior to his loss to Usyk in the fall of last year, he had put together a record of 24-1, with numerous heavyweight titles victories and wins over the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Andy Ruiz Jr. and Joseph Parker just to name a few. A fighter with a ton of reach and power, the English boxer has a tremendous knockout-to-win percentage which stands at 91.67%. This also includes an overall knockout percentage of 63.4% in world heavyweight title fights.
While he has certainly impressed the world with his tremendous fighting prowess (he has 22 knockouts out of 24 career victories), Usyk flummoxed Joshua last time they faced off. In their bout back in September, the Ukrainian’s movement patterns and variety in his fighting proved to be too much for the champion. This also included Usyk nearly toppling Joshua in the final seconds of the last round in London. While he was unable to retain his titles against the Ukrainian, Joshua has never lost back-to-back fights and was able to topple Ruiz in their rematch via unanimous decision.
Prediction: This fight should live up to the hype and serve as a fantastic way to end the summer. With all of this in mind, take Joshua here to reclaim his heavyweight titles.
As you are wrapping up your pre-fight research, SBS has your back with a plethora of other great boxing betting resources. This includes our fantastic boxing betting sites overview which goes into great detail regarding the latest betting lines around the world. In addition to wagering markets, SBS has done a lot of the dirty work for you by compiling the best bonus betting sites breakdown which has a catalog of different bonus offers. Another great page to always tap into for those on the go, is the SBS best betting apps guide which details all there is to know about mobile gaming. This resource details how and why to bet using a mobile device.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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