Eddie Hearn is confident Anthony Joshua's world title fight with Oleksandr Usyk will take place in June despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Hearn revealed the news during an Instagram live session. The rematch was put in jeopardy after Usyk bravely returned to his native Ukraine to help defend the country against ongoing attacks from Russia.
Usyk is one of several Ukrainian fighters who have ditched their respective sports to fight on the frontline. Over three million refugees have fled Ukraine through its western border whilst more than 20,000 civilians have been feared dead in the city of Mariupol.
Joshua has been expected to rematch Usyk ever since he lost his heavyweight belts to the former cruiserweight king last September. The Brit will look to become just the sixth three-time heavyweight champion in history by avenging his loss to Usyk.
Joshua recently said he will fight again "soon" but didn't confirm whether it will be against Usyk, stating: “When’s the next fight? It’s actually happening soon. I don’t wanna say too much, but yeah, the fight’s happening soon. I pray it’s the rematch. I won’t fight anybody outside of the top ten.”
Usyk will seemingly be given a chance to leave Ukraine and defend his heavyweight titles, as Bob Arum revealed Ukrainian Vasyl Lomachenko will be allowed to leave the country for a potential clash with lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr.
“The Ukrainian government, which is tremendous, are co-operating with us as far as Lomachenko and also Usyk. They realise there’s tremendous publicity value in having them come out, train and participate in title fights," Arum told Fanatics View.
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“Hopefully the war will then be over, but if it isn’t, [they will then] go back into defence mode. So I don’t know where that stands with either guys, whether they’re going to accept the offer of the cultural minister of Ukraine to leave and to train for fights.”
Joshua was being encouraged to step aside from rematch with Usyk earlier this year to allow an undisputed fight between Tyson Fury and the Ukrainian, but talks of the undisputed title fight fell through and Fury will now fight WBC mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte.
With questions being raised as to whether Usyk fight amid the war in Ukraine, undefeated contender Joe Joyce put himself forward to fight Joshua after 'AJ' considered an interim bout in the meantime.
