Anthony Joshua has officially triggered his rematch clause to fight Oleksandr Usyk again, promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed. The Brit will be bidding to win back the world heavyweight titles he surrendered to Usyk last month.
Joshua, who had had ambitions to face Tyson Fury in an all-British blockbuster for all the heavyweight belts next, was stripped of his titles at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium two weeks ago after Usyk delivered a boxing masterclass.
The slick southpaw was far too skillful for AJ on the night and came close to stopping him at the final bell before being awarded a deserved wide unanimous points decision.
Joshua and his promoter Hearn made their intentions to seek a rematch clear immediatly after the Brit suffered the second defeat of his professional career.
And the Matchroom boss has now revealed they have taken that action today, with an eye for the fight to be staged in the early part of next year.
Speaking on DAZN ahead of Anthony Fowler’s fight with British rival Liam Smith, Hearn said: “He’s training now and today we officially triggered the rematch for the Oleksandr Usyk fight, which we will see early next spring. So he’s back in the game and looking to become a three-time heavyweight world champion.”
JUST IN: Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk rematch verdict given by Brit’s protege Lawrence Okolie
“Actually, I’d like him to lose some of that humbleness sometimes.
“But he’s sulking. That’s the reality – I’ve been with him a couple of times and he’s fixated with the mistakes he made.
“He’s frustrated, he’s disappointed, he’s gutted. All he can think about is how he can improve.”
Despite being soundly beaten, Joshua has been backed by some of boxing’s biggest names to exact revenge on pound-for-pound star Usyk, with even his rival Fury, who defends his WBC title against Deontay Wilder this evening, claiming the Brit is ‘definitely’ capable of beating him.
Fury however insisted that Joshua would only win if he or his cornerman Sugar Hill were to train him for the fight.
“I know that if I trained Joshua, me and SugarHill trained him for the next fight, he’d definitely beat Oleksandr Usyk,” Fury said.
“That is a fact, and I would be open to doing it. I’d be very open for me and Sugar Hill to train him.
“I’ll do it for free because I don’t need his money.
“I wouldn’t take his money anyway, but I and we would take on that challenge, no problem and I’d guarantee he beats him.”