- Round-by-round updates, main event due 10.30pm BST
- Joshua stirred by local clubland memories before Usyk test
- Get in touch! Email Luke or tweet him @LukeMcLaughlin
Could this prove to be one of the most demanding fights of Anthony Joshua’s career? Many people seem to think so, even if the odds appear to significantly favour the British fighter, with the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk having stepped up to the heavyweight division from his natural home at cruiserweight.
There has certainly been no shortage of pre-fight hype, and the nearly 70,000 fans who will pack into Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and pay-per-view watchers around the world are thus hoping for plenty of bang for their buck. Usyk is highly regarded to say the least – he unified the cruiserweight champion with four different belts before vacating his titles to move up to heavyweight. He stopped Tony Bellew at cruiserweight in 2018 before outlasting and out-pointing heavyweight Derek Chisora at Wembley in October last year. “I’m coming for you, Anthony,” Usyk declared after beating Chisora, a success which saw him become the mandatory WBO challenger for Joshua’s title. And here he is.
