All eyes are on Saudi Arabia this weekend for the eagerly anticipated rematch between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk
Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk square off at the pre-match press conference. Courtesy The National.
With preparations for the Qatar World Cup in its final stages, it is easy to forget another sporting event of monumental proportions being hosted by the Middle East. This Saturday, August 20th, sees Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk face off in a riveting rematch of last September’s heavyweight bout, with the coveted WBO, WBA and IBF titles on the line.
Billed as The Rage on the Red Sea, and as definitively a World Cup as boxing can offer, the fight takes centerstage at the glittering King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. The complex is part of a slew of Middle Eastern sporting venues like Meydan and the Dubai International Cricket Stadium that have gained in prominence as centres of global sporting excellence.
London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium played glittering host to the original battle, which saw the Ukrainian Usyk decisively win the World Heavyweight Championship titles. But in a heavy dose of foreshadowing, Joshua previously lost the same titles to Andy Ruiz, Jr. in 2019 before regaining them in a highly anticipated rematch. The venue of that title decider? Saudi Arabia.
Anthony Joshua at Expo 2020. Courtesy The National.
The 32-year-old Briton, who interrupted his training in Dubai for a highly talked about visit to Expo 2020 earlier in the year, has pledged to rediscover the aggression that fuelled his startling rise to boxing superstardom. In a characteristically revealing interview, Joshua admitted to veering too much into the technical aspects of his approach, letting his eye wander from the aggressive nature the fighter became iconic for.
Usyk, on the other hand, endured a decidedly different build-up. The Rage on the Red Sea was originally scheduled for May, before being postponed due to the situation in the fighter’s homeland of Ukraine. The 35-year-old joined the military, later being granted a special exemption to prepare for the Jeddah event.
*Usyk photo from first match, called: Oleksandr Usyk after beating Anthony Joshua in their heavyweight title*
Usyk after victory in the first match. Courtesy The National.
It remains to be seen whether Joshua can make good on his promise of reverting to the young, belligerent champion, or whether Usyk can retain what he decisively won in front of a raucous London crowd.
This is to say nothing of the looming spectre of a certain Tyson Fury. The prize fighter has asserted his retirement plans and, indeed, his highly sought after Ring Magazine title is also up for grabs on Saturday. But with hints of a comeback being subtly sprinkled, Saturday’s winner in Jeddah could very likely face Fury for the undisputed heavyweight title.
All this bodes well for the Middle East, which is in the thick of a busy few years that have witnessed the Expo 2020, the Qatar World Cup and Formula One races galore. The Rage on the Red Sea is the latest in a long line of attention-grabbing headlines that have paid testament to the region’s ability to deliver world-class entertainment and hospitality.
