Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua 2 is a huge heavyweight title fight and the boxing betting odds have flipped massively since the first time these two superstars met.
It was September 2021 when they first locked horns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, in front of 67,000 frenzied locals who had all come out to see AJ defend his IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles.
Joshua went into the bout as favorite at -225 (bet $225 to win $100) but he suffered an upset loss as the Ukrainian former cruiserweight successfully achieved his dream of ruling at heavyweight too.
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Usyk – despite being some 19lbs lighter than Joshua, not only boxed brilliantly but was willing to bite down on his gumshield and stand in the pocket to trade when the need arose.
Now we are set for the rematch, but what if anything is going to be different? We know AJ has a new trainer after ditching long-term corner chief Robert McCracken in favor of American Robert Garcia.
But will a new trainer and a new approach be enough to solve the puzzle that no other pro has decoded so far? How to beat Oleksandr Usyk. That is the question.
Usyk vs Joshua 2 Odds
Like we said, the odds have absolutely flipped since the first fight and now Usyk is the favorite. But as the fight gets closer, there is money coming for AJ.
When the line opened up Oleksandr was best odds of -210 (bet $210 to win $100) with Joshua trading as the +185 underdog. Things are a little tighter now though, with Usyk now -188 (bet365) and Joshua +160 (Widely available). The Draw is a +2000 shot.
Usyk vs Joshua 2 Picks & Predictions
Our boxing expert has previewed the big fight, and he loves Usyk to get the job done. We have a tasty +275 pick for you, and you can get it here.
When does Joshua vs Usyk start?
Usyk vs Joshua 2 will take place on Saturday August 20, 2022 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Ring walks are expected to be late afternoon on the East Coast of the United States – likely between 4pm and 5pm.
Joshua vs Usyk on TV: Which channel?
Okay so here is the biggest shock concerning this fight – DAZN DOES NOT automatically have the rights to stream this bout, despite recently signing Joshua to a new global deal.
DAZN of course already has the likes of P4P king ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Gennadiy ‘GGG’ Golovkin under contract and it seemed a given that AJ’s new global package would include the rematch with Usyk. DAZN remember streamed the first fight in the U.S. last September.
AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn though confirmed this week that the Saudi Arabian hosts own the global rights for Usyk vs Joshua 2 – and says they are now negotiating with broadcasters. So watch this space.
For reference right now, the cost of a DAZN sub right now is $19.99 per month or $149.99 for an annual sub.
What are Usyk and Joshua fighting for?
Not just a fistful of dollars at stake here, but three world heavyweight title belts as well.
Usyk defends the IBF, WBA and WBO world heavyweight titles for the first time, after winning them vs Joshua last September.
There is also the huge lure of a potential unification showdown vs WBC, Ring magazine and lineal heavyweight king Tyson Fury lying in wait for the winner here.
Boxing has not had an undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield back in 1999, but that long wait could soon be over. At least that’s the dream.
What was Usyk’s amateur record?
Usyk, like fellow Ukrainian boxing megastar Vasiliy Lomachenko, had an incredible amateur career before moving into the paid ranks. His record as an amateur was a stellar 335-15.
As a professional Usyk has yet to lose – his record is a perfect one at 19-0.
What does this mean for Fury vs Joshua?
If Joshua loses to Usyk again, then we can likely forget Fury vs Joshua for a long time and maybe for ever.
If AJ wins however, then the biggest fight in British boxing history surely has to happen. And maybe the biggest fight in boxing now. Even bigger than Canelo vs GGG 3 or Crawford vs Spence? Maybe.