Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua look set to fight on July 23 as Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn has confirmed the date as a "strong possibility".
While Saudi Arabia is expected to host the world heavyweight title rematch, with Joshua and Usyk both earning monster payouts, no venue has been decided as yet. Instead, Hearn insists, an announcement is forthcoming in the next few weeks.
Speaking with Mirror Fighting ahead of this weekend's Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano fight in New York, Hearn confirmed that the promotion have come to terms Joshua and Usyk's deals. But they have yet to find out where the fight will be held, and aren't 100 per cent locked in to the July 23 date, despite it being the preferred outcome.
"The fight is 100 per cent happening in July," Hearn confirmed, having moved the date from the original June timeline. "We're closing off the date at the moment, venue and everything and we hope to have an announcement for you very soon.
"July 23 is a strong possibility, it's not done but that could be the date - [Saudi Arabia] is one of the front runners [to host the rematch]."
Usyk took the unified WBA, WBO and IBF titles from Joshua at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in September with a dominant decision win. And despite political and social pressure to host the fight in the UK again as opposed to Saudi Arabia, Hearn believes that money will talk in deciding where the bout is held.
The champion has left his home in Ukraine, where he was fighting the ongoing Russian invasion, to participate in the massive world title fight. And there have been critics of his choice to fly to Saudi for such an event, instead pushing to have it hosted elsewhere.
"We'd like to do it in London, but Usyk's on a share of the revenue," Hearn joked. "It's probably more than double to do it elsewhere so we're up against that. We'd like it in London because it gives you an edge, it gives AJ an edge and we'd definitely take an edge in that fight but ultimately, both fighters have got to be happy with the deal and we have to generate the most revenue for that fight at the same time."
Who do you think wins on July 23; Anthony Joshua or Oleksandr Usyk? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
The decision to host the world heavyweight title fight in Saudi Arabia, Joshua's second bout in the region, has been criticised over human rights issues in the country. They have been accused of looking to 'spotswash' their reputation with major events such as heavyweight title fights and WWE showcases.
Peter Frankental of Amnesty International, a non-governmental organisation focused on human rights, told PA in March: “Saudi Arabia’s human rights record remains dire – with dissent severely punished, human rights defenders persecuted and jailed, and the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen conducting a terrifying campaign of airstrikes which have repeatedly killed civilians.
“After the Saudi authorities shockingly executed 81 people in a single day earlier this month, it’s likely that Riyadh will see the glitz and raw hype of a Joshua-Usyk bout as a useful exercise in sportswashing that could help lessen any outrage over the executions."
