Usyk vs Joshua: the most anticipated rematch, in a Guinness stadium and with a “movie” commercial

After forced postponement Due to the war between Ukraine and Russia, one of the most anticipated battles of the year will take place on Saturday in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia). There the British Antonio Giosuè will seek revenge against Oleksandr Usykwho defeated him last year and ripped the heavyweight division belts of the World Boxing Association, the International Boxing Federation and the World Boxing Organization.

A great anticipation has raised one of the many sporting events that the Saudi monarchy, one of the main allies of the United States in the Middle East, brings to its territory to try to clean up its image, often tainted by numerous violations of human rights that are committed in the own territory e denounced by the United Nations Organization and by various international organizations. For this, the authorities do not cheat the bills or leave the details to chance.

“Fury at the Red Sea” It is the motto with which a fight is announced whose promotion, borne by the Matchroom Boxing company, was at the peak of the size of the event. As part of this, the Saudi Ministry of Sport has produced a short film of just over two minutes, with a production almost Hollywood in which more than 30 people worked and in which the two contenders, the former world featherweight champion Naseem Hamed and dozens of extras in a simulated fight participated.

The event will take place in Jeddah Superdomea luxurious Colosseum with a capacity of 35,000 spectators that was built in just 10 months, was inaugurated in June last year and then entered the Guinness Book of Records for being the building with the largest continuous roof geodesic dome in the world. Although it will be the first time there will be a boxing event there, it will not be the first time that a world heavyweight title fight has been held on Saudi soil: in Diriyah, 950 kilometers from Jeddah, Joshua defeated the Mexican. Andy Ruiz in December 2019.

As he did against Ruiz, Joshua will seek revenge on the other man who beat him in his professional career, which includes 24 wins (22 before the limit) and those two setbacks. Usyk, winner of his 19 fights for rent (13 by KO) and former undisputed cruise weight champion, he beat him by unanimous decision on September 25 last year at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Two weeks after that defeat, the British warned that he would exercise the automatic rematch clause provided for in the contract which had been signed before the first duel. However, the revenge remained in limbo when the armed actions of the Russian armed forces on Ukrainian territory began on February 24.

just a few hours later, Usyk returned to his country and announced his incorporation into the Kiev territorial defense battalion. The image of him with military clothing and rifle in hand has traveled the world. “My country and my honor are more important than any title. Now I have to fight against (Vladimir) Putin for the freedom of my nation “, said the champion during an interview with CNN from a basement in the Ukrainian capital.

However, four weeks later the Ukrainian ended this hiatus in his professional career and left his country to prepare for the rematch against Joshua, originally scheduled for June, but postponed by two months to allow for optimal preparation of the boxers and tailor-made organization for the event.