ANTHONY JOSHUA’S high-stakes rematch with Oleksandr Usyk is being finalised for July.
AJ’s second showdown with the undefeated Usyk was thrown into major doubt in February when the proud Ukrainian took up arms against Russia.
And promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed the pair’s rematch has been finalised
Negotiations resumed after Usyk was given permission to leave his homeland and both sides have come to a suitable agreement for the tussle.
During an appearance on talkSPORT, the Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn said: “The fight’s all done, it’s all agreed.
“It’s 100 per cent Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk the rematch.
“We’re finalising the location at the moment, his team are in London this week so we’re gonna sit down with them.
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“I think in two weeks time we’ll finalise the date. It will be July.
“And hopefully AJ can become a three-time heavyweight world champion.”
Joshua, 32, was turned over by the slick southpaw in their Tottenham tussle last September and lost his grip on the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles.
But Usyk’s preparations for their rematch will be clouded by the ongoing Russian invasion of his homeland.
He told BlockAsset: “I want to concentrate as much as possible on my preparation [for the rematch].
“Because at the moment I cannot stop thinking about the war, about my friends in Ukraine.
“And I have to get rid of such thoughts as much as possible in order to be prepared well for the Anthony Joshua fight and be able to glorify again My God, Jesus Christ and my native land.”
He added: “Frankly speaking, all that is going on now is quite horrible – in Ukraine.
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“Every day I pray for the soonest possible end of this horror. In comparison with war, boxing is child’s play.
“War is a terrible thing which I would not wish on my worst enemy.”
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