Fight Week: Anthony Joshua gets another crack at heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk

FIGHT WEEK

Oleksandr Usyk will defend his heavyweight titles against Anthony Joshua on Saturday in a rematch of Usyk’s unanimous decision victory last September.

OLEKSANDR USYK (19-0, 13 KOS) VS. ANTHONY JOSHUA (24-2, 22 KOS)

• When: Saturday, Aug. 20
• Time: 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
• Where: Jeddah Superdome, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• TV/Stream: DAZN pay-per-view
• Division: Heavyweight (no limit)
• Rounds: 12
• At stake: Usyk’s IBF, WBA and WBO titles
• Pound-for-pound ranking: Usyk No. 3
• Odds: Usyk 2-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
• Also on the card: Callum Smith vs. Mathieu Bauderlique, light heavyweights; Filip Hrgovic vs. Zhang Zhilei, heavyweights; Badou Jack vs. Richard Rivera, cruiserweights
• Prediction: Usyk UD
• Background: Usyk scored a significant upset when he outboxed Joshua to win a convincing decision and take three of the four major heavyweight titles even though he was outweighed by nearly 20 pounds last September in London. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion stepped back from boxing after Russia invaded his native Ukraine but he was encouraged to defend his belts. He’s 3-0 as a heavyweight, with victories over Chazz Witherspoon (TKO 7), Derek Chisora (UD) and Joshua. Joshua might be in a do-or-die situation. Back-to-back losses to Usyk and three setbacks in five fights would be difficult to overcome for the one-time king of the division. Of course, he bounced back from disappointment in the past. The Londoner was stopped by Andy Ruiz Jr. in seven rounds to lose his titles in June 2019 only to easily outpoint him in the rematch six months later. Joshua stopped Kubrat Pulev in nine rounds in December 2020, his only fight since the second meeting with Ruiz. The winner of Usyk-Joshua II will be in position to face Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight championship if Fury doesn’t retire.

EMANUEL NAVARRETE (35-1, 29 KOS) VS. EDUARDO BAEZ (21-2-2, 7 KOS)

• When: Saturday, Aug. 20
• Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
• Where: Pechanga Arena, San Diego
• TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
• Division: Featherweights (126 pounds)
• Rounds: 12
• At stake: Navarrete’s WBO title
• Pound-for-pound ranking: None
• Odds: Navarrete 10-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)

• Also on the card: Giovani Santillan vs. Julio Luna Avila, welterweights; Nico Ali Walsh vs. Reyes Sanchez, middleweights
• Prediction: Navarrete KO 10
• Background: Navarrete will be making the third defense of the 126-pound title he won by outpointing Ruben Villa in October 2020. The indefatigable volume puncher from Mexico, a former 122-pound champ, followed the victory over Villa with a 12^th-round knockout of Christopher Diaz the following April and a wide decision over Joet Gonzalez last October. The defense on Saturday will be the 27-year-old’s fourth consecutive fight in the United States. His only loss came in a four-rounder against journeyman Daniel Argueta in 2012, the year he turned pro. Baez, also a 27-year-old from Mexico, rebounded from a majority decision setback against Ra’eese Aleem by defeating Enrique Vivas by a majority decision in his most recent fight this past March. Baez is a good, durable fighter with limited punching power.

OMAR FIGUEROA JR. (28-2-1, 19 KOS) VS. SERGEY LIPINETS (16-2-1, 12 KOS)

• When: Saturday, Aug. 20
• Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
• Where: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida
• TV/Stream: Showtime
• Division: Junior welterweights (140 pounds)
• Rounds: 12
• At stake: No major titles
• Pound-for-pound ranking: None
• Odds: NA
• Also on the card: Alberto Puello and Batyr Akhmedov, junior welterweights (for vacant WBC title); Roger Gutierrez vs. Hector Garcia, junior featherweights (for Gutierrez’s WBA title); Brandun Lee vs. Will Madera, junior welterweights
• Prediction: Lipinets UD
• Background: Figueroa was supposed to have fought Adrien Broner but Broner pulled out Monday to tend to his mental health needs, after which Lipinets agreed to step in. The older brother of Brandon Figueroa is coming off consecutive losses, a wide unanimous decision against Yordenis Ugas in July 2019 and a sixth-round stoppage against Abel Ramos in May of last year. The one-time 135-pound titleholder said that he has had his own mental health challenges but is now in a good place. The 32-year-old Texan can’t afford another loss if he hopes to remain a relevant fighter. Lipinets also will be trying to bounce back from a setback, a sixth-round knockout against rising sensation Jaron Ennis at welterweight in April. That followed a draw with Custio Clayton the previous October. The 33-year-old from Kazakhstan hasn’t fought at 140 pounds since he lost his IBF title to Mikey Garcia in 2018. He said he has been in training the past three months in case an opportunity presented itself.

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

SATURDAY

• Ruben Torres vs. Cristian Baez, lightweights, Corona, California (Thompson Boxing Facebook and YouTube)

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