LONDON (AP) — Anthony Joshua admitted he is “definitely desperate” to become world heavyweight champion again when he faces Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Aug. 20.
Usyk will be defending the IBF, WBA and WBO titles he claimed from Joshua in beating the British fighter at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September. Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) was outclassed by his Ukrainian rival, who defied disadvantages in height, reach and weight to win in London by unanimous decision.
“What happened then is in the past, I don’t really live in the past, I’m just present,” the 32-year-old Joshua said at a news conference in London on Wednesday. “I’ll be looking to be competing round-by-round and if I follow my As, Bs and Cs, it should lead me to KO."
The former two-time world heavyweight champion called for "Less talk, more action. I’m not a comedian, I’m not someone who likes big speeches.
“Let me get in there and do my job, that’s my priority. I’m definitely hungry, definitely desperate but how I perform will speak volumes to the masses.”
The 35-year-old Usyk, a former undisputed world cruiserweight champion, has won all 19 of his professional contests and wore a blue-and-yellow T-shirt with the message ‘Colors of Freedom’ in reference to his native Ukraine and Russia’s invasion of the country.
He helped with the war effort against Russia, initially putting in jeopardy a second fight against Joshua, before being given special permission to defend his world titles.
While this will be Joshua’s second fight in Saudi Arabia — he avenged his only other defeat against Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019 in Diriyah with a points win — it will be Usyk’s first in the country.
Saudi Arabia has been routinely accused of human rights violations and has faced claims of attempting to “sportswash” its reputation.
Usyk said money was not the driving factor in his decision to fight there.
“I’m not fighting for money or the recognition," Usyk said. "The only thing I’m on my way to is to save my soul. Everything else that is happening to me is just life.”
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