Oleksandr Usyk expects his heavyweight rematch with Anthony Joshua to be signed and confirmed "very soon" after making his return to training camp.
The Ukrainian star snatched Joshua's unified world titles away from him last September with a punch-perfect display in London. He was forced to delay his contracted rematch with Joshua after returning home to Ukraine to take up arms and help defend against Russian invasion.
Usyk has admitted that the recent events in his homeland will motivate him to make his country proud while preparing for the clash in the gym. “We’re currently looking into the contract and if everything is okay we’re going to sign it very soon,“ Usyk said during his appearance on the Block Party YouTube show. “If everything goes well, yeah we’ll select the exact date soon.
“Maybe some of those who watch this show will think that I am crazy but even mates and colleagues sometimes call me Mr Frost because I am able to distract from certain things. Of course, what’s going on currently in Ukraine will motivate me a lot in the gym, in training sessions and of course during the fight.
“Because for me it’s another way to make people happier, those who are at home right now. The fight is continuing but I’m keeping posted on my friends and I’m regularly updated by them, I receive all the news from them. I made this decision to return to training sessions as my friends and my colleagues from authorities some of them are public figures.
“They asked me to return and to get back training. This way I can help my country way more than just staying [in Ukraine] or joining the territorial defence battalion, so this way I’m helping my country too.”
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July 23 is currently the expected date for the second meeting to take place with venues in the Middle East the front runners to stage the event. Joshua and Usyk will likely earn monster purses with the British star looking to gain revenge for the second time in his career in a bid to become three-time heavyweight champion.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has admitted Joshua would ideally like to fight in London but Usyk has his sights set on other alternatives. "July 23 is a strong possibility, it's not done but that could be the date - [Saudi Arabia] is one of the front runners [to host the rematch]," Hearn confirmed.
"We'd like to do it in London, but Usyk's on a share of the revenue. It's probably more than double to do it elsewhere so we're up against that. We'd like it in London because it gives you an edge, it gives AJ an edge. We'd definitely take an edge in that fight. But ultimately, both fighters have got to be happy with the deal and we have to generate the most revenue for that fight at the same time."
