Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 | Predictions

It has come around once again. Anthony Joshua has been given a second shot at saving his heavyweight career after being outboxed and beaten heavily by Oleksandr Usyk in September last year. However, can Joshua get redemption over the Ukrainian?

When is the fight?

The eagerly anticipated matchup will take place in Saudi Arabia on 20th August at 9 pm (BST). With the fight less than two weeks away, all the pundits are having their view on how they think the fight will go in two Saturdays' time. 

What happened in the first fight?

What can be frustrating is that the loser of a huge heavyweight boxing fight is that they instantly get a rematch. It feels like there is a safety net for the loser to rewrite their own history and this has already happened once in Joshua’s career after he suffered the shock loss to Andy Ruiz. 

However, this rematch will be different because in the first fight Usyk destroyed Joshua who was not prepared at all for the Ukrainian and his rugged nature. The pace of Usyk really took it out of the bigger Joshua who really struggled in the fight to keep up with the stamina of the fight.

Just how poor Joshua was should not take anything away from Uysk, who only recently stepped up to heavyweight level from cruiserweight, as he outboxed Joshua in all departments keeping his record clean and at 19-0.

How will this fight be different?

Joshua has to be different and that is simple. His game plan last time was poor and if he attacks like that again he may as well stay at home and log onto luckydice.in. It is vitally important that he stays strong throughout and uses his height and weight difference to his advantage.

It might not be a particularly entertaining fight as Joshua will struggle to outbox the much quicker Usyk but if he uses his strength, much like Tyson Fury does, and puts his weight onto Usyk that will slow him down dramatically. 

However, Usyk will not allow Joshua to do this as he will continue to look to outbox him and keep him moving to slow him down.

Is there any chance for Joshua?

Of course, there is but he has to perform. Joshua is a great boxer but has not put in a fantastic performance since his huge fight with another Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko. It will be closer this time because the fight plan will be different in the Joshua corner and much like he did against Andy Ruiz, he rethought the fight and adapted to his opponent.

Does Usyk just have too much?

Usyk is a real fighter and he looks even stronger than he did in the first fight. Usyk is a cleverer boxer and has too much in him for Joshua. It is not a foregone conclusion but it does look like it is Usyk’s fight to lose as he looks to make his record 20-0.  

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