Anthony Joshua is set to fight Oleksandr Usyk in a major battle very soon
Four and a half months after Oleksandr Usyk laid claim to Anthony Joshua's championship belts, the stage looks set once again for a rematch between the two heavy hitters.
Back in September 2021, Ukraine's Usyk took over AJ's WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO belts after a convincing thumping at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The fight has had to come through some big challenges after it looked likely to get scrapped when Joshua was offered a huge payout to allow fellow brit and WBC champ, Tyson Fury, to face Usyk instead.
However, despite a reported £15 million payday being on the table for the former champ if he agreed to step aside, talks broke down after Mancunian Fury demanded a warm-up match before his fight with Usyk.
Why didn't Anthony Joshua step aside?
According to TalkSport, Joshua was offered a shot at the winner of the proposed Fury Vs Usyk and the opportunity to scoop up all four belts – but the proposed warm-up match could have seen this is scrap being as late as December.
Speaking to iFL TV Eddie Hearn, AJ's promoter, said: "All those conversations were instigated by Tyson Fury's team. We were prepared to listen and try make it happen.
"If it made AJ get a shot at the winner of that fight and it's financially a good deal, we'll consider it. The deal was very simple, Fury vs Usyk. Winner fights Joshua.
"One of the problems was that do we trust him to fight March 26, June and December? Warm-up, Usyk, Joshua? No way.
"The deal that we discussed first of all was no longer the deal, because Tyson Fury wouldn't fight Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua said 'no way, no way.'"
Joshua vs Usyk 2 fight date
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While the fight itself is not yet officially confirmed and there is no date set for it, with the step aside hurdle overcome it looks set for the spring.
Hearn has said the fight could take place in either March or April. Speaking to TalkSport he said: “There’s nothing wrong with the Ukraine, I have no idea what it’s like in February, but I’d like it back in the UK.
“We will sit down with Usyk’s team and we will look at the options. We’ve had a couple of international offers come in for that rematch as well.
“I said to AJ the other day ‘are you sure you don’t lose these fights deliberately just to have these massive rematches?’
“It’s a huge fight again, but I’d love to do it back in the UK, probably in March or April. It’s a fight he must win.”
Joshua vs Usyk 2 UK start time
With no confirmed date set yet, it is too early to offer up a confirmed start time. However, it is fair to assume it will largely be dependent on where it is held.
If it is held in the UK, it is likely it will be shown live in the evening for Brits. However, if the fight ends up being held internationally, as Hearn said was possible, it could end up being in the small hours.
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