Oleksandr Usyk Confirms He’s Leaving His Country To Prepare For Joshua Rematch

The rematch had been thrown into doubt last month as Usyk returned to his homeland in order to lend his services to the fight against the Russian invasion.

However, Usyk has now announced his intention to fulfil the rematch clause in his contract following their first meeting back in September, which he won via unanimous decision.

Plans are now being put in place to officially announce a rematch between Usyk and Joshua, with hopes for a bout in June.

Usyk has reportedly been granted leave in order to depart Ukraine, having returned to the country to join the Kyiv Territorial Defence force and fight the Russian invasion.

His return to Ukraine had thrown the original plans for a rematch into doubt, with a date in May having previously been drawn up for the pair to meet.

Joshua even started shortlisting potential alternative opponents in order to return to the ring following the second defeat of his professional career.

The British fighter is instead now set to be given the chance to reclaim his world title belts from Usyk later this year, after surrendering the IBF, WBO and WBA super world titles in the September defeat.

There is also potential for the winner of the Usyk vs Joshua rematch to seek a bout to unify the heavyweight division against either Tyson Fury or Dillian Whyte.

Fury and Whyte will fight for the WBC and The Ring titles in London on April 23, with Fury currently holding the belts, having retained it in his trilogy bout with Deontay Wilder in October last year.