Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 Predictions, Best Bets & Odds (Boxing)
- Written by David Bet
The WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight boxing world titles are up for grabs as Anthony Joshua takes on Oleksandr Usyk in a much anticipated rematch on August 20. The Brit is seeking redemption after he suffered a shock defeat to Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last year. Can Joshua solve the Usyk puzzle? Will Joshua’s new trainer Robert Garcia be enough for AJ to win against the undefeated Ukrainian? Read here our Usyk vs Joshua 2 predictions, best bets, highest odds and betting bonuses to use on this summer's huge fight!
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Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua 2 UK Start Time
Wondering when is Joshua vs Usyk 2? Well, AJ and the current world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk had been due to do battle in May, and then July, but there were various hold-ups in negotiations which pushed the fight further back.
The rematch will take place on Saturday, August 20. Usyk vs Joshua 2 is going to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The fight should begin at 9pm UK time but official times for the Joshua vs Usyk 2 have not been confirmed yet. As more details are confirmed, we will keep you updated right here
As to the venue, te Jeddah Super Dome will play host.
The 40,000-seater stadium is the largest geodesic dome in the world to stand without pillars, and hosted the WWE Elimination Chamber in February.
How To Watch Usyk vs Joshua 2
Sky Sports won the bidding war for the rights to show the event - with the UK rights for the fight not part of AJ's DAZN deal.
DAZN will be showing the fight in the rest of the world.
What Happened in The First Fight?
After much hype and anticipation, the first fight went the full distance. Anyway, Joshua was outclassed by Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last September, losing his world heavyweight crowns on a hugely difficult night.
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Usyk vs Joshua 2 Betting Preview
Oleksandr Usyk is undefeated in 19 professional fights so far in his boxing career (19-0, including 13 KOs) and hold the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight titles.
He is no stranger to hardware, having unified the four major belts at the cruiserweight division in 2018 when he earned a decision win over Murat Gassiev. Usyk made one successful defence of his crown, knocking out Tony Bellew in the eighth round of an epic fight night.
He started his heavyweight quest by defeating Chazz Witherspoon and Dereck Chisora by KO before beating Anthony Joshua by decision in his last fight back in September, shooking off his best power punches. That night, "The Cat" was the better fighter, and the first bout scorecards (117-111, 116-112, 115-113) showed it.
He also was seconds from stopping AJ by a tremendous knockout in the last few rounds.
Usyk has not fought since. Since beating Anthony Joshua in front of over 60,000 fans in London, the former cruiserweight champ has gained further global attention after putting the rematch on hold to support his home nation Ukraine on the front line, following the Russian invasion.
Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) was dethroned as Heavyweight King by Ukrainian pound-for-pound star Usyk in September 2021. He conceded his WBA, IBF and WBO belts to the Ukrainian – who also claimed the IBO belt. Joshua tried to outbox one of the most technical boxers in boxing, and it didn’t go his way.
AJ suffered his first defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019 but won the rematch in the controversial Saudi region six months later. He then retained the titles against Kubrat Pulev in December 2020 before his latest reverse.
Another defeat to Usyk could leave Joshua out cold in the heavyweight picture but promoter Eddie Hearn is adamant even in the worst case scenario, it will not spell the end of the road for the British heavyweight.
The Brit hired esteemed US trainer Robert Garcia, who has promised revised tactics.
“I think he fought the wrong fight,” declared the American trainer. “He’s the bigger man, the stronger man, he’s got the reach advantage, so we’re going to take advantage of all that.”
Usyk vs Joshua Odds
Usyk is odds-on at 13/25 with Unibet to beat the British boxer via any method in Jeddah, while Anthony Joshua is 9/5 with QuinnBet to defeat his Ukrainian in the eagerly anticipated rematch. The draw is currently priced at 20/1 with Coral.
Joshua vs Usyk 2 Predictions
While the bookmakers are understandably setting Anthony Joshua as the underdog, it still should be a competitive rematch. Joshua possesses the power to put every opponent to sleep, and looked self-confident and mentally ready in press conferences. AJ dramatically improved his game-plan in the second fight against Andy Ruiz Jr and the same could happen in this fight.
Anyway, Joshua stated he's going for an early knockout but with his questionable stamina and engine, that could go against him. AJ's best chance to win the rematch is the "one punch KO" scenario, but if he runs out of gas, there is no chance he can beat Usyk.
Should the fight go the distance, Usyk is expected to retain his heavyweight champion belts. In fact, Joshua has a habit of winning by knockout but when he doesn’t land that big punch, he’s likely to be outpointed.
On the other side, Oleksandr Usyk is likely to be even more comfortable at heavyweight after the last fight. He will also likely be even bigger than he was in the first fight, although still undersized compared to AJ. Usyk's technical skills are regarded as among the best in boxing with his superb footwork and movement making him one of the most elusive fighters in the game.
Summing up all the factors, Usyk is a deserved favorite to remain champion. Even if heavyweight boxing is unpredictable, we go for Usyk to win the bout and retain his belts in Saudi Arabia. We also expect one or more knockdowns in late rounds (the first bout finished with no knockdowns even if Joshua went very close to hit the canva) and will update the odds as soon as any bookmaker will take bets on this betting market for the rematch.
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Joshua vs Usyk 2 Undercard
Although nothing official for the Usyk-Joshua 2 undercard has been announced there are two final eliminators believed to be in the pipeline.
Callum Smith v Mathieu Bauderlique – WBC Light Heavyweight
Filip Hrgovic v Zhilei Zhang – IBF Heavyweight
Moreover, World Super Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion Badou Jack should face Richard Rivera as the Swedish born 38-year-old looks to continue his quest to become a three-weight World Champion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Tyson Fury fight the winner of Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk?
Tyson Fury announced that he retired from the sport after he destroyed Dillian Whyte at Wembley on April 23.
However, Fury has since admitted he would face the winner of Joshua vs Usyk 2 in a huge unification bout later this year if if he could seal a £500 million deal.
Who is Robert Garcia?
Robert Garcia is Anthony Joshua's new trainer, with AJ splitting from long-time coach Rob McCracken after losing his his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles, last September. The reason is that the tactics AJ used in the defeat to Usyk were widely panned, so the Watford man went out in search of a new guide in his corner.
Where is Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua 2 taking place?
The upcoming rematch, labelled as "Rage on the Red Sea", is taking place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, August 20.
Who is the favourite to win the Joshua vs Usyk rematch fight?
Based on the Joshua vs Usyk 2 betting odds at major websites, Oleksandr Usyk is widely considered to be the favourite. Many bettors believe Joshua just doesn't have the natural gifts to adjust/slip/ counter like Usyk. If AJ comes in heavier and wanting to throw big punches he will be slower and Usyk will counter even easier, and Joshua will tire quicker too if he comes in too heavy and be even slower later in the fight.
How much will Joshua and Usyk earn from this fight?
Usyk and the Watford-born heavyweight are expected to share a minimum purse of £100m.
Who is Tyson Fury predicting to win?
Tyson Fury has made a big prediction when speaking with Gareth A. Davies. The current WBC champion predicted Usyk to beat Joshua a second time, stating the Ukrainian is a too good of a boxer for Joshua to contend with. Anyway, the Gypsy King also stated “In heavyweight boxing, it only takes one punch. It wasn’t a complete landslide last time, Usyk had a lot of marks on his face, he was cut up. Anyway, I think that [new trainer] Robert Garcia trying to train him to be on the front foot or whatever and be aggressive will only enable Usyk to land more often.”. Fury also added “I don’t think AJ’s got the ability to pressurise him for 12 rounds, drag him into a dog fight and knock him out”.
