Anthony Joshua will attempt to reclaim his heavyweight titles tonight from Oleksandr Usyk in the Saudi desert, 11 months after suffering his second career defeat.
It would be recalled that Joshua was dethroned for the second time in his career last September when Usyk dominated over 12 rounds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Joshua has had to wait impatiently for his chance to reclaim his world titles for the second time in his career.
However, Usyk is the overwhelming favorite to retain his belts and maintain his position atop the pound-for-pound rankings.
The main event is set to begin shortly before 11 p.m. United Kingdom and Nigeria time.
The good news is that you can stay up to date on everything right here at truthlive.net
Round 9 — Usyk in trouble!
What an effort from Anthony Joshua!
He finally breaks through the defences of Usyk and gets his opponent on the run.
Usyk is forced to hold on as Joshua stalks him around the ring. The Brit is unable to land anything truly clean, but has the sustained attack taken something out of Usyk?
Round 8 – Joshua attacks the body!
That’s Anthony Joshua’s best round for a while.
He continues to take a fair amount of punishment from Usyk, but this time has some success of his own as he unleashes a combination of body shots.
It’s definitely the most aggression we’ve seen from AJ, but he certainly took his fair share of shots as well.
This could be about to get very exciting if Joshua has decided it’s time to go for broke.
Round 7 – Usyk growing in confidence
Joshua appears to be having a better round as he takes the centre of the ring for the opening couple of minutes, but it’s Usyk who lands the most meaningful punches as he gets on top in the final 60 seconds.
Joshua takes a sweetly timed left hand well, but looks a little frustrated as he heads back to his corner.
Could this fight be following the pattern of their first encounter?
Round 6 – Usyk delivers best round of fight
It’s Usyk’s turn to land a good body shot early in the sixth, but Joshua takes it pretty well.
Usyk is having his best round as he continues to pepper Joshua with punches, and despite one good flurry from the Brit, that is definitely Usyk’s round.
It’s certainly tight at the halfway stage, but many expected Usyk to be the fighter that would come on stronger in the second half of the fight, as he did in London last year.
We’re about to find out what will happen this time around.
Round 5 – Joshua lands vicious body shots
It’s a slightly more active start to the round, before Joshua lands a shot that referee Luis Pabon says is low and allows Usyk time to recover.
When the fight resumes Joshua lands another vicious right hand to the body, but Usyk comes back moments later with a nice counter.
The champion finds a home for a heavy left hand of his own, which Joshua takes well, before the Brit lands a right hand in the dying moments that may have just seen him edge the round.
Round 4 – Fierce exchange in final stages
The pattern we’ve seen in the early rounds continues as it’s pretty circumspect stuff to start with, before it opens up in the final minute.
Usyk lands first once more, but Joshua again has a response as he fires off a couple of rights hands of his own.
The round ends with Joshua countering another Usyk attack and the Brit walks back to his corner with a smile on his face.
Round 3 – Tight exchange continues
It remains very tight in the opening couple of minutes of the third.
Usyk lands a couple of good shots in the final minute, before Joshua responds with a clubbing right hook which is partially blocked by the Ukrainian.
It’s another very tight round that could probably be scored either way, but surely Joshua can’t get into another pure boxing exchange with his opponent.
Round 2 – Joshua shows intent!
Joshua shows more intent in the second as he lets his hands go on a couple of occasions.
Usyk lands a sweet jab that snaps Joshua’s head back, but it’s the Brit who ends the round on the front foot as he lands a decent right hand to the body.
That one was very tight.
Round 1 – Tight start
It’s a tentative start as neither man lands anything of note in the opening couple of minutes.
It finally opens up a bit in the closing minute as Usyk lands a solid lead right hand before Joshua attacks the body.
Usyk lands his best left hand of the round in the final seconds, and it’s certainly a very tight opener.