Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn activate rematch clause for second Usyk fight
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British Heavyweight Anthony Joshua has triggered his rematch clause with Oleksandr Usyk after the Ukrainian decisively beat the Brit last month at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Hearn confirmed the news when speaking on DAZN ahead of Liam Smith's bout with Anthony Fowler.
"He's [Joshua] is training now, and we can confirm, as of today, that we have triggered the rematch for the Oleksandr Usyk fight.
"Which we will see early next spring, so back in the game and looking for him to become a three time heavyweight champion."
Joshua lost via scorecard decision by 117-112, 116-112, 115-113 to Usyk last month.
However, immediately after the loss, when in the trainers room, Joshua was reportedly already speaking about the rematch and getting into the gym.
"It was a tough fight, a gruelling fight," Hearn told Sky Sports Box Office immediately following the defeat.
"He's not quite talking the way you would expect him to talk at the moment. Devastated. He's already talking about training again.
"They want to look at the eye socket. He says it's fine, but a devastating defeat.
"Obviously congratulations to Oleksandr Usyk. What a fighter. He put in a great performance tonight and the better man won."
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It's not the first time that Joshua has come back from a defeat.
Joshua, who was flying high in 2019, had the wind taken out his sails when he lost his titles to Andy Ruiz Jr.
However, Joshua demonstrated his grit by coming back to reclaim his titles against Ruiz in Saudi Arabia.
And he will be hoping for a similar outcome against Usyk when the pair square off next spring.
Joshua's bitter rival, Tyson Fury, recently joked that he should train him for the rematch.
"I feel I can give him the mental toughness, to give him the ability to beat Usyk. I could give him the right instructions to do the job," Fury told ILF TV.
"It's not that his own trainer can't, but there is a way that you can beat Usyk and only I can teach him that."
Fury, himself, will defend his title in the early hours of Sunday morning against Deontay Wilder.
Joshua had originally been scheduled to face Fury, before the Gypsy King was ordered to complete his trilogy saga with Wilder.
And boxing fans will be hoping that the two will meet in the ring soon.
- Anthony Joshua
- Boxing
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