Oleksandr Usyk Anthony Joshua Rematch By The Numbers

As the countdown continues for the Saturday night’s unified heavyweight title rematch between IBF/WBA/WBO world champ Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine and England’s former champ, Anthony Joshua, we decided to look at this one a little more closely by the numbers.

First, the Ukrainian Usyk is a former Olympic champion, as well as the former Undisputed Cruiserweight World Champion. He stands at 19-0, 13 KOs with the signature win being his impressive, upset unanimous decision over Joshua in his backyard at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September 2021.

As for the Brit Joshua, he comes to the Middle East with his career on the line, again. even though he’s 24-2, 22 KOs, he’s lost two of his last four fights. And, a third loss in five bouts on Saturday night would spell doom in the short term for his marketability and future prospects in 2023 and beyond.

With that understand, here we go:

329- That’s the number of days between Usyk’s win last year and Saturday night’s rematch. Over the past few years, in part due to the Covid 19 pandemic, etc,, both Usyk and Joshua have had lengthy layoffs of at least 11 months like it will be on Saturday night.

1- The number of men prior to Saturday night that have regained the heavyweight title by beating the man in a rematch who had previously beaten him for the belts. Lennox Lewis did it twice by beating Oliver McCall who beat Lewis in 1994 but Lewis won the 1997 rematch to regain. Lewis lost his titles again, this time to Hasim Rahman in 2001 and beat him seven months later, again regaining.  Joshua lost and then defeated Andy Ruiz in 2021. And, now? He has the chance to do it, again with Usyk.

66, 267- The attendance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last August with almost every single fan rooting for Joshua in his home country

10,000- The approximate seating capacity of the boxing venue/arena inside the King Abdullah Sports City complex in Jeddah Saturday night. And, it’s likely not to be as partisan for either fighter.

(-220) – That’s the Saturday afternoon betting line for the slight favorite Usyk on the Bet US sports book line. Joshua comes in a modest underdog at +180 in this one.  Joshua was only a list -200 favorite, when he lost last September.

$75 million- The reported guarantee to each fighter for the rematch after Matchroom Boxing negotiated the “site fee” deal with the Saudi Arabian government and organizers of the event in Jeddah.

35- the age of the champ Usyk

32- the age of the challenger Joshua

And finally, 1, again- the maximum number of days it will take the WBC champ Tyson Fury to “un-retire” yet again, and demand to face Saturday night’s winner in an undisputed bout.