Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua
20th August 2022hrs
Boxing – Title Fight – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Pick Under 9.5 Rounds
Bookmaker William Hill
Odds: 11/8 odds recorded 21:28 GMT on August 18th 2022
Saturday night’s headline act for boxing betting is the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua.
AJ will be looking to earn back all the belts that he lost to the Ukrainian fighter when they met a year ago.
But Joshua is heading into the bout, which is being held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as the big underdog.
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Oleksandr Usyk Preview – Champion could be tough to stop
Reigning IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk looks ready for this.
After dominating the cruiserweight division for so long, he made his step up to the heavyweight division in 2020.
That was with a victory over Derek Chisora.
There were question marks about his ability to handle the weight rise.
However, Usyk took everything in his stride, took his time and landed an easy points decision against Chisora.
Then he spoiled Anthony Joshua’s night in September last year, by beating AJ in London.
That was from a position as an underdog in boxing betting.
For Saturday’s rematch Oleksandr Usyk is the 8/15 odds-on favourite in boxing odds* (odds recorded 21:28 GMT on August 18th 2022 at William Hill).
This rematch comes about because of a clause in the first bout between them.
Usyk left his Ukraine homeland in March this year to get ready for this big defence against Anthony Joshua.
He was given his support by the president, prime minister and minister of sport in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian has packed on the pounds and looks far more massive than what he was for the first fight.
That makes him an ever bigger danger potentially to Joshua.
In the first meeting, he used his speed and technical ability to outbox his opponent.
He looks to be going at it with sheer power this time around.
Usyk is at his heaviest weight ever, a stone higher than he was for his first meeting with Joshua.
Anthony Joshua Preview – Career on the line?
After his rise to the top, Anthony Joshua’s career has taken a couple of bad hits lately.
It has been two defeats in his last four fights now.
The chance at his big unification fight with Tyson Fury has gone, with the Gypsy King having retired undefeated.
In the summer of 2019, Anthony Joshua was stunned in New York by Andy Ruiz.
He lost all his belts, but then fought Ruiz in a rematch out in Saudi Arabia and earned them back.
Will a similar story unfold for him this time around?
Again Joshua heads to Saudi Arabia looking to earn back the belts that he lost.
In the match outright for boxing odds, Joshua is the 13/8 underdog* (odds recorded 21:28 GMT on August 18th 2022 at William Hill).
He was never in the first contest against Usyk.
What does he have to bring to the table a year later against the same opponent?
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Anthony Joshua could retire if he is beaten once again, it has been suggested.
Johsua has the strength and ability, but his focus looks to have been lacking in his most recent fights.
He didn’t have an answer to Usyk’s power and accuracy in London.
Joshua sat back, not going on the offensive which encouraged Usyk to land his blows.
One plus for Joshua is that he is facing a shorter opponent who has a smaller reach.
Still, heading into Saturday night, Joshua has a lot of critics to silence.
Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua Betting Advice
We are pulling towards a successful defence by Usyk on Saturday, even on the back of a difficult year.
He has gone up in weight, which may trim back some of his speed and stamina.
But his technical ability is tremendous and will likely bring strong accuracy.
It also raises the potential of him stopping Joshua and under 9.5 rounds is our first boxing tip at 11/8* (odds recorded 21:28 GMT on August 18th 2022 at William Hill).
Key Facts – Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua Betting Tip
- Oleksandr Usyk is 19-0 in his career
- Oleksandr Usyk beat Joshua by a unanimous decision last year
- Anthony Joshua is 24-2 in his career
The Joshua of old, when he was more aggressive and brimming with naive confidence seems to have gone.
His chin has looked a little more vulnerable as well and could find himself under some big pressure.
Usyk just looks ready, he’s clearly geared up for this and if he can combine his new power with his pace, that spells trouble for AJ.
The Oleksandr Usyk Round 7-12 option is the second pick for boxing tips at 10/3* (odds recorded 21:28 GMT on August 18th 2022 at William Hill)
The best betting odds for Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua
Oleksandr Usyk to win: 8/15 at Bet365
Draw: 16/1 at Bet365
Anthony Joshua to win: 13/8 at Bet365
