Hospitalised Anthony Joshua to fight Oleksandr Usyk in rematch

Eddie Hearn, the promoter of Nigerian-born boxer Anthony Joshua has confirmed the boxer will look to take on Oleksandr Usyk again in a rematch after losing his unified titles in London.

This comes shortly after Oleksandr Usyk emerged as the new heavyweight world champion after securing victory over Anthony Joshua in London, the United Kingdom on Saturday night, September 25.

In the fight, the three judges scored the bout all in Usyk’s favour 117-112, 116-112, 115-113.

‘He will want to go back in that rematch, and he will be the underdog in that fight but he has just been beaten by a pound-for-pound great,’ promoter Hearn said.

‘Joshua lives and breathes boxing, he is already talking about training again and he will be in the gym and ready to get back in again.

‘You can criticise Anthony Joshua, but he has just fought a great and he is fighting the very best, and tonight he came off second best.

‘There is a new unified heavyweight world champion, but there is no point sulking about it and he must go back to the drawing board and rebuild.

‘We will have enough time, the fighter in AJ says he will win the rematch but I had it close before Usyk ran away with it at the end.

‘But he has to make changes and impose his style to win the rematch, or he will lose again.’

Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua has been taken to hospital for treatment on an eye injury suffered in his title defeat to Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night, September 25 in London.

Joshua lost to the undefeated Ukrainian Usyk after a scintillating display.

Usyk who is a southpaw fighter, landed headshots throughout the contest with his shots causing Joshua’s right eye to swell after the 10th round.

By the end of the 12th round, Joshua was barely standing and had to be saved by the time bell. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn (pictured below) said his fighter may have suffered a broken eye socket.

When he lost in New York everyone started analysing the dressing room, the ring walk,’ Hearn said.

‘He was fine, he was maybe a little too relaxed on the ring walk, he was shaking everyone’s hand, he was hugging a few people that is just AJ but I feel it was the wrong type of performance.

‘Sometimes you have to use your attributes.

‘[Joshua] never really got going, he will go to hospital now, I don’t know if he has broken his eye socket, it doesn’t look great.’

Joshua now has 30 days to activate a  rematch clause which will most likely take place in Usyk’s home.