The heavyweight boxing scene has suddenly become interesting again in recent years. The coming months see some top level match-ups and that begins with Anthony Joshua attempting to regain the world title (again) on Saturday August 20.
Last year saw him lose his world title for the second time. After previously losing and then beating Andy Ruiz Jr, this time he was comprehensively beaten by former cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Now it’s back to Saudi Arabia where it only rains money for the return bout.
Joshua is 7/4 at Paddy Power to win the fight. The champion is 1/2 at Betfair so the bookies aren’t thinking Joshua can become a three time champion of the world.
When someone loses a fight and gets a rematch, you need to look and see if the second bout can produce something different. Joshua didn’t put in a good display against Usyk and could easily have been stopped by a harder puncher.
One thing is certain and that is Joshua cannot outbox Usyk. He shouldn’t even try to because his opponent is a skilled technician which is why it’d be great to see him take on Fury. Joshua has a new trainer now and knows he needs to be more aggressive in this rematch.
If this fight goes the distance, it’s likely to be the same old story again. Usyk will win on points and the odds of that are 2/1 at Betfred. It’s 8/1 at bet365 that Joshua wins on points. For him to do that he would need a few rounds that he wins by a couple of points after knocking Usyk down.
Joshua has to get off to a good start. If he can be more aggressive and get an early knockdown then the odds of him winning will start to fall. Usyk has never lost as a professional and doesn’t know what it’s like to be stopped.
William Hill gives odds of 5/2 on Joshua winning inside the distance, it’s 15/8 at the same bookies for Usyk to win in that fashion. The latter does look attractive if Usyk can stay in command, weather the storm and stop a tiring Joshua.
Usyk made his name at cruiserweight and has put on weight for this fight. That might just slow him down a bit and that would give Joshua a chance of regaining his title. Sometimes though it’s hard to back Joshua.
Some of the comments he’s been making this week have been rather subdued. Claiming that winning the belts back would mean nothing to him is sheer lunacy. It should mean absolutely everything for him, you can bet Usyk doesn’t feel that way. Just a bit more aggressive a nature from Joshua would be appreciated rather than just playing the good guy all the time.
Will it be another title winning night for Joshua? He has a big punch and that always gives him a chance but it looks like Usyk is going to keep hold of his belts. Odds on how long it will take Fury to make a tweet saying he’s coming out of retirement to fight Usyk are not available.
