With the time for talking just about over entering Saturday’s heavyweight championship bout pairing unified titleholder Anthony Joshua against former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, probably the most remarkable part is how little has been actually said between them.
In a division filled with larger-than-life personalities from Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder to Dereck Chisora and Dillian Whyte, the two combatants who will share the ring inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in England have been noticeably short on headline-filling words while showing each other a healthy amount of respect (1 p.m. ET, DAZN).
From the standpoint of Usyk (18-0, 13 KOs), a 34-year-old native of Ukraine and, like Joshua, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist, the strategy appears to be very much calculated. Dressed in a suit from the Joker’s closet of “Batman” fame during Thursday’s press conference, Usyk perfectly embodied physically what goes on inside of his genius and very maniacal mind.
The 6-foot-3 southpaw, known for his dry comedic style, has chosen not to show his cards ahead of the fight. All of his interviews have been short and awkward, in fact, especially when asked how he will overcome the size difference of three inches in height, four inches in reach and 18.5 in pounds after Joshua weighed in at 240 on Friday.
“I’m not even thinking about that, whether he looks slim or tall or whatever,” Usyk told IFL TV. “We are going to see on Saturday night.
“He is a really, really and very famous guy. Even old ladies in my country know who he is.”
Asked specifically whether his fight-week strategy has been one of playing mind games, Usyk flashed his trademark sinister grin.
“All of life, it’s game,” Usyk said. He was just as glib when asked how he thinks he can pull the upset against the defending WBA, WBO and IBF champion.
“Box, boxing,” Usyk said. “Boxing will happen on Saturday night.”
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Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) hasn’t been much better. He has seemingly deflected all specific questions aimed at Usyk’s unique skill set as clever boxer and tactician to instead focus on why he wasn’t willing to avoid a mandatory challenge against such an accomplished foe.
“I love throwback fighters,” Joshua said after Thursday’s final press conference. “I’m not a major historian because I spend a lot of time practicing. I don’t really fight good fighters because I want people to respect me. It’s not complicated. If you told me I was fighting King Kong, I would be there full. This is my job and honestly, it’s a blessing. I love my work.
“I knew [Usyk would be the next opponent] about three or four months ago and I took the opportunity. Why would I be worried? As long as I can wake up the next day and be happy and blessed, what is there to worry about? It’s about taking on personal challenges. I just happen to be in a position where people have interest in my job.”
Like most boxing fans, Joshua would’ve preferred returning this summer against Fury, the WBC and lineal champion, to crown boxing’s first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era. The two-fight deal was scrapped at the last minute, however, after Wilder filed a court injunction to enforce his contractually obligated rematch against Fury.
Enter Usyk, who on paper presents the type of challenge Joshua hasn’t yet faced throughout a five-year reign as heavyweight champion that was briefly interrupted in 2019 by his upset TKO loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. (which Joshua avenged by decision six months later).
Although Usyk has won both of his heavyweight fights since moving up from cruiserweight, his close victory last fall over Chisora left critics wondering whether he can handle the power and size of an elite super heavyweight like Joshua.
The undercard fills out rather nicely on Saturday night from London. The co-main event sees a WBO cruiserweight title defense as champion Lawrence Okolie takes on Dilan Prasovic. Okolie, a native of London, has yet to taste defeat in his pro career through 16 bouts. He’s scored 13 knockouts along the way and carries some serious power, as evidenced by his knockout of Krzysztof Głowacki in March. Prasovic, meanwhile, also enters unbeaten with 12 knockouts in 15 fights, but the native of Montenegro has not faced the same levels of competition so far.
Plus, former WBA super middleweight champion Callum Smith is back in action when he takes on Lenin Castillo in a featured contest. Smith has not fought since a decision loss to Canelo Alvarez in December 2020 where he dropped his title. Prior to that, Smith held the WBA’s 168-pound title for three fights with wins over George Groves, Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam and John Ryder. Castillo, meanwhile, has won four of his last six with his only two defeats coming against higher levels of competition.
Fight card, odds
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
- Anthony Joshua (c) -270 vs. Oleksandr Usyk +220, WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight championship
- Lawrence Okolie (c) -2200 vs. Dilan Prasovic +1100, WBO cruiserweight championship
- Callum Smith -4000 vs. Lenin Castillo +1500, light heavyweight
- Florian Marku -700 vs. Maxim Prodan +500, welterweight
- Christopher Ousley -110 vs. Khasan Baysangurov -110, middleweight
- Campbell Hatton -3000 vs. Sonni Martinez +1300, lightweight
- Daniel Lapin -4500 vs. Pawel Martyniuk +1600, light heavyweight
Viewing information
- Date: Sept. 25 | Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — London
- Start time: 1 p.m. ET (main event set for approximately 5:10 p.m. ET)
- TV: Traditional PPV for $34.99 (check local listings)
- How to watch/stream: DAZN (subscribe now)
Prediction
If Joshua can use his speed and power to discipline Usyk early or outright stop him, all the talk about the Ukrainian’s wizard-like boxing skills will be moot. But it’s potentially in the second half of this fight, should Usyk set enough early traps before coming on late, that things might get interesting.
It’s not as if Joshua, who has the most decorated resume of the top heavyweights and might be its most well-rounded performer, is unable to box or execute a game plan. Making it feel like an all-or-nothing scenario of knockout or bust is unfair. Yet at the same time, the combination of Usyk’s smarts and Joshua’s noted vulnerabilities make it hard to discount the underdog’s legitimate chances.
For whatever Usyk lacks in bulk or one-punch power, he’s daring enough to fight in the pocket because of his speed, swiveling defense and accurate combinations. The pressure Usyk applies by doing so can produce fatigue, especially for a more muscle-bound big man like Joshua, who has endured huge stamina dumps in big fights including when he was forced to get up off the canvas to finish Wladimir Klitschko in 2017.
Should Joshua tire from Usyk bringing the fight to him without AJ making him pay for it, that’s when the champion’s unpredictable chin might come into play. Usyk is accurate enough with his power shots that a fatigued Joshua could find himself in trouble. The fact that Usyk proved during his incredible run to the undisputed cruiserweight championship that he can rise to the occasion in big moments — including his majority decision unification win against Maris Briedis — can also not be overlooked.
While Usyk needs to avoid the finishing blow throughout and show enough of a durable chin to employ such a daring style at close range, Joshua isn’t as physical of a fighter in comparison to Chisora, who was able to hold and maul Usyk — particularly to the body — and slow down his foot speed advantage.
If Usyk has the fight of his life, it still might be an uphill battle in convincing all three judges given that AJ’s fights inside deafening soccer stadiums resemble rock concerts. But Usyk is skilled enough to pull it off.
Pick: Usyk via SD12
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