
Anthony Joshua tries to correct a mistake in Saturday’s rematch against Oleksandr Uzyk, streaming live on DAZN US. Is Usyk able to repeat his impressive performance in an upset fashion? Can Anthony Joshua improve on his performance in the first fight? Can A.J. learn and use the strategy Robert Garcia, his trainer, has been teaching him in training camp? Was Usyk trying to win this fight via knockout, as some media speculate?
These are the current odds on the upcoming boxing match. If you’re looking for odds on more fights, be sure to check out our boxing odds page.
Method of victory | Oleksandr Usyk | Anthony Joshua | ||
Outright | -205 | +168 | ||
Win by KO, TKO or DQ | +160 | +270 | ||
Win by decision | +220 | +900 | ||
Draw | +2,200 | +2,200 |
Oleksandr Usyk, a professional and amateur champion, used his pedigree to hurt Anthony Joshua late. Usyk used his speed and ability inside the pocket to make Joshua nervous for too long. Anthony was able to return to the fight, despite starting slowly. However, he seemed to be losing his momentum. Joshua’s lack of urgency was a head-scratcher, as were the directions he received every time the bell rang in his corner. The Joshua camp decided it would be a smart idea to try and outbox a classic boxer almost unbelievably. If you’re looking to get betting on this fight this weekend, ensure you check out the best boxing betting sites in the US.
There is no doubt which version of Anthony Joshua will win this fight. Joshua must be a pressure fighter who is willing to use combinations in order to get a win. In the same way that Murat Gassiev attacked Usyk’s stomach, Oleksandr also admitted that he was annoyed by Gassiev’s body punches. AJ cannot focus too much on the area because he is afraid of being countered, but body work can help Usyk to relax and create openings for his head. According to this boxing podcaster, Anthony Joshua will need to hurt Oleksandr Usyk and/or drop him to raise his hand Saturday.
Usyk would do well to attempt to replicate the first fight, landing counter or lead shots while maintaining distance with his footwork and jab. We will see more a aggressive Joshua.You can also expect lateral movements from Usyk using pivots or quick clinches when Joshua is up close. Expect Usyk to be more confident going into the rematch, having previously faced this foe before. You can also see how he looked in the AJ fight and his previous heavyweight bouts. Only two things stand out for Usyk’s side. One is his weight. Did he gain in his neck and shoulders? We won’t find out until the weigh-in. Another is his mental state regarding family and friends back home in war-torn Ukraine. This could be distracting or motivating.
If Anthony Joshua doesn’t show a distinct difference in approach within the 3rd through 5th rounds, the scorecards for Oleksandr Uzyk will likely be higher. In the first frames, AJ will need to establish his size and punching ability. AJ must throw everything at Usyk. It’s important Joshua closes the gap, throws combos and fights at range will be more like the last. Robert Garcia will alert AJ if he is down in the fight, giving him an urgency that we didn’t get last September. It will be interesting for Joshua to hear what other voices he has heard between rounds. It is possible that Uysk did bulk indeed, as shown in a recent photograph (which can be deceiving).
The first meeting was not an 11-1 or 10-2, whitewashing as some people in the media claim. However, AJ may be unable to close the gap and punish Uysk. A rematch could very well be a walkover. Joshua is the boxer who sees more success in the first half of the fight. But Usyk is likelier to win and has proven that he can box at close range and outbox opponents on the outside. In a close fight, one can assume that the “A” side will win. We’re hoping for lots of two-way action. However, I’m not convinced that AJ can make all the necessary changes in a single training camp.
However, be sure to stay up to date with the latest in boxing news on our site if you want to find out more about upcoming boxing fights.
Side Note: Omar Figueroa Jr. will take on Sergey Lipinets in the Showtime Quadruple Header main event. Undercard fights such as Gutierrez vs. Garcia & Puello vs. Akhmedov should make the undercard stand out. Emanuel Navarrete, an all-action fighter, takes on Eduardo Baez at the main event on ESPN.
Written by Chris Carlson Host/Producer of The Rope A Dope Radio Podcast Available at www.blogtalkradio.com/ropeadoperadio Follow on TwitterΒ @RopeADopeRadio
Β
Β
Β
Β
Β
If you enjoy hearing from the legends of pro sports, then be sure to tune into βThe Grueling Truthβ sports shows, βWhere the legends speakβ
Contact us: contact@thegruelingtruth.com
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.