WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk’s rematch with Anthony Joshua has a UK broadcaster and an undercard. The show will be broadcast live On Sky Sports Box Office from Jeddah SuperDome in Saudi Arabia. The undercard is set to showcase some huge names, here’s a look at the appetisers on offer before Usyk and ‘AJ’ provide us with a heavyweight main course.
Badou Jack vs Richard Rivera
The first confirmed bout for the show. Best known to British fans for beating George Groves and drawing with James DeGale, former two-weight world champion Jack squares off with unbeaten Richard Rivera. The pick here is for Badou to have too much for his less experienced opponent who is stepping up to cruiserweight for the first time.
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Callum Smith vs Mathieu Bauderlique - WBC light heavyweight final eliminator
Liverpool’s former WBC super middleweight champion Smith continues his rebuild just over a year and a half after his loss to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. This eliminator with European champion Bauderlique is Smith’s second bout at light heavyweight.
Filip Hrgovic vs Zhilei Zhang (IBF heavyweight final eliminator)
Somebody’s 0 must go in this intriguing meeting of unbeaten heavyweights. Hrgovic is a consummate knockout artist with a big future ahead of him. Zhang, who lost to Joshua at London 2012, had his flaws exposed in a draw with Jerry Forrest in February 2021.
Tyrone Spong vs Andrew Tabiti
Kickboxer-turned-pugilist Tyrone Spong will fight for the first time in three years when he takes on former cruiserweight title challenger Tabiti. Spog is 14-0 with 13 knockouts, but Tabiti represents a major step up in class for the 36-year-old.
Daniel Lapin vs Jozef Jurko
Promising light heavyweight Lapin gets a decent learning fight in his sixth professional outing. The 6’6 southpaw takes on former Czech light heavyweight champion Jozef Jurko, who was stopped in one round by Sam Hyde on a 2019 visit to England.
Ramla Ali vs Crystal Garcia Nova
History-maker Ali, the first female Somali boxer to turn professional and first Somali to compete at the Olympics, has it all to do in this one. Garcia Nova is a former world title challenger whose ten victories have all arrived via knockout. But Ali is truly special, and this bout could pave the way to world title opportunities.
Ziyad Almaayouf vs Jose Alatorre
New York-born, Egypt-raised and with proud Saudi roots, Ziyad Almaayouf is the closest thing this card has to a “home” fighter. He makes his pro debut here, facing a fellow debutant in Alatorre.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change