Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua of England will defend his titles against Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk on Sept. 25 at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The 31-year-old Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) will put his IBF, WBA and WBO belts on the line against the 34-year-old Usyk (18-0, 13 KOs), who is his mandatory WBO challenger.
Both boxers won gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics, with Joshua winning the super-heavyweight division and Usyk conquering the heavyweight bracket.
“We are two Olympic gold medalists who have fought our way to the top and never avoided challenges,” Joshua said in a statement on Tuesday. “The stadium is exceptional, the atmosphere will be electric, I’m honoured to be the first person to fight in such an awe inspiring venue. I am ready to handle business.”
Joshua’s last fight was a ninth-round knockout of Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev on Dec. 12, 2020 in London.
Usyk is a former undisputed cruiserweight champion. His last bout was a 12-round unanimous decision over Derek Chisora of Great Britain on Oct. 31, 2020, also in London.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has a capacity of more than 60,000, but the number of spectators will be determined at a later date with regard to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
–Field Level Media