British fighter would join likes of Ali and Lewis with victory – but many predict a defeat that will prompt retirement calls
The weather in Jeddah is seasonably hot. Temperatures in the mid-to-high-30s and high levels of humidity have made Saudi Arabia’s city by the Red Sea a stifling place to be this week for those not used to such conditions. And for one visitor in particular it could be proving too much given he already has other reasons for feeling the heat.
Anthony Joshua is here for what may well prove to be a career-defining fight. On Saturday night, at the Abdullah Sports City Arena, he faces Oleksandr Usyk and seeks to avenge his defeat to the Ukrainian in Tottenham 11 months ago, in which he lost his WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles via a unanimous points decision.
Written by Sachin Nakrani in Jeddah
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/aug/19/anthony-joshua-oleksandr-usyk-boxing-rematch-saudi-arabia under the title “Anthony Joshua desperate to avoid line in the sand with Usyk rematch | Sachin Nakrani”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
