Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 will now go ahead in July and will likely take place on the same day as UFC London. The pair are due to rematch on July 23 in Saudi Arabia with Usyk having defeated Joshua in September of last year. The fight has been in the works ever since that fight.
Joshua was comfortably defeated via points in the first meeting, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Usyk stripping Joshua of his three titles and pushing a heavyweight unification bout further into the horizon - one with Tyson Fury which may not happen after he announced his retirement.
It looked like Usyk would be forced to pull out of the upcoming heavyweight clash, when he returned to his home country of Ukraine to join the fight against the invading Russia.
ALSO READ: Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 will 'stir' Tyson Fury into changing plan
Ukrainian men had been prevented from crossing the border, instead being required to sign-up to defend the country - and Usyk was one of many athletes to answer the call, alongside fellow boxers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko and Vasily Lomachenko. Now, Usyk has left Ukraine to resume his training.
Speaking on Ariel Helwani's podcast, Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn tentatively confirmed that July 23 is a likely date for the fight - set to be held in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua previously fought in Saudi Arabia in his rematch against Andy Ruiz, in which he comfortably defeated the Mexican boxer, avenging his only loss at the time. He will look to do the same against Usyk in June, should the fight proposal be made official.
If the fight is to be held on this date it will clash with UFC London, which has now been confirmed on July 23 - which is likely to be held at the O2 Arena after a successful and widely-praised event in March.
