The Perfect Storm

[Mary C]

 

The Perfect Storm

by: Barney Cruz

 

BLUE CORNER : ANTHONY JOSHUA 

RED CORNER: OLEKSANDR USYK 

 

While AJ was expected to face Tyson Fury later this year to become the new unified heavyweight champion, he eventually withdrew and instead met Deontay Wilder for their three-fight series. Rather than waiting to see how the match pans out, Joshua decided to take a dangerous risk and get in the ring with a top-ranked WBO contender, the Ukrainian Usyk.  

 

Usyk is undefeated in his previous 18 expert fights, defeating Derek Chisora in October 2017. The Ukrainian provides Joshua with an enormous challenge. It’s imperative that he wins in order to maintain his desire to claim all the heavyweight titles. In addition to that, he holds other pound-for-pound records. Usyk rose to the heavyweight division in 2018 after winning the undisputed cruiserweight title, going on to defeat Chazz Witherspoon and Derek Chisora.  

 

Pulev stunned Joshua via knockout in December of 2016, resulting in a vast height and force advantage for Usyk. To put it bluntly, people believe that the lineal heavyweight champion, Joshua, is possibly the best knockout fighter in boxing, and is expected to add one more name to his remarkable record if he has the chance to win all four of the world titles in the heavyweight division. This is when Joshua will challenge Usyk for the vacant WBO World Heavyweight Championship on Saturday, September 25 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. They are expected to enter the ring at approximately 5:10 p.m. ET/ 10:10 p.m. BST, depending on the outcome of the previous primary card fights. 

 

Anthony Joshua will be defending his 3 heavy world titles, WBA, WBO and IBF, against the undefeated and the number 1 contender of the WBO. In 2016, he won the IBF belt with a third-round TKO victory over Eric Molina. He then got his WBA title in 2017 against Wladimir Klitschko and his WBO title in 2018 against Joseph Parker via unanimous decision but lost all three belts to Andy Ruiz in 2019, however gaining them back after just 6 months in a rematch. Joshua is looking his best self out there after giving Kubrat Pulev a 9th round knockout in his last match.  

 

Oleksandr Usyk, former Olympic Gold medalist in 2012 and undisputed cruiserweight champion, will be facing Anthony Joshua after Tyson Fury was pulled out of his title bout fight. Usyk gained the title of undisputed cruiserweight champion after defeating Murat Gassiev in the World Boxing Super Series final in 2018. He is returning again to the ring for the first time since last October against Derek Chisora and won by unanimous decision. Usyk aims to continue his dominance in the heavyweight division by setting his sights on gaining all 3 of Joshua’s titles while also continuing his unbeaten 18-0 run. 

 

This will surely be a fight to watch with both boxers surely giving it their all to prove what they can truly do in the ring. Joshua will be looking to add another name in his aim to hold all four heavyweight belts. Usyk looks to prove himself as more than just another underdog fighting for a title. This fight should end with Oleksandr Usyk winning either by KO, TKO or DQ. 

 

Anthony Joshua will defend his 3 titles against Oleksandr Usyk this Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 26, 4AM. (GMT+8).