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AJ vs Usyk: Whoever wins common decency and boxing loses
JOHN WIGHT hits out at the decision to stage the AJ vs Usyk rematch in Jeddah this Saturday, and its sportswashing of bloody Saudi regime
Oleksandr Usyk (centre left) and Anthony Joshua (centre right) during a weight in at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Jeddah

THE port city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia is where Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk are meeting on Saturday in what, if the likes of promoter Eddie Hearn are to be believed, is a highly anticipated rematch.

It’s hard to square this claim with the first fight between them at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September last year, however, which turned out to be a largely one-sided affair, involving the Ukrainian former cruiserweight king schooling the 6'6" Brit to the point of humiliation.

In fact, AJ at points in the previous clash was all over the place, arms flapping around as he tried but failed to contain Usyk’s unrelenting pressure and skilful and judicious use of a jab that found the target with near consummate ease.

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