Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua 2 has finally been confirmed.
The rematch will go down on August 20 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight world titles on the line.
Usyk said: “I have a goal, with the help of the Lord I will complete my mission!”
Joshua gave a longer statement.
He said: “What a roller coaster journey, fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world for the 12th consecutive time.
“I won the belt, unified the division won another belt, lost the belts, became two-time unified heavyweight champion and now have my date with history set to become three-time unified heavyweight champion of the world.
“What an opportunity.
“Fighting championship level back to back has had its pros and cons, but I decide every day to get stronger, to learn from my experiences and grow.
“A happy fighter is a dangerous fighter and I am the happiest and most motivated I have been.”
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗠𝗘𝗗  @usykaa & @anthonyjoshua run it back Aug 20 for the unified World Heavyweight Championship  #UsykJoshua2 #RageOnTheRedSea pic.twitter.com/kPeqISFRzn
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) June 19, 2022
Usyk won the belts from Joshua last September at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a comprehensive unanimous decision victory.
There was always a rematch clause in the contract between AJ and Usyk and the Brit indicated in the immediate aftermath of his loss that he would be activating the clause.
However, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Usyk returned to his home to help defend his country and that put a delay on any proposed bout.
Eventually, Usyk decided to leave Ukraine and begin training for the Joshua rematch believing it could be a powerful victory for his country in a time of turmoil.
Joshua had to wait while Usyk’s complex situation back home unfolded
Championship boxing 20/08/22  pic.twitter.com/ckvnPsd2Dw
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) June 19, 2022
“I decided to start preparing for a rematch with Anthony Joshua, a large number of my friends support me, all the rest of the good and peace, Thank God for everything.
“That’s how I will help my country more and it’s better than being in territorial defence and running around Kyiv with a machine gun,” Usyk said back in March.
It’s believed that Usyk has been training in Poland as he prepares for his showdown with Joshua, but AJ, a former two-time world champion, has been preparing for this fight pretty much since his defeat.
Angel Fernandez, a man who has been a part of Joshua camps in the past, will work alongside AJ’s new trainer Robert Garcia for the Usyk rematch.