Joshua triggers rematch clause with Usyk, as Fury again knocks out Wilder

Nigerian born, Briton and former heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua has triggered his clause for a rematch against heavyweight rival Oleksandr Usyk and the fight could take place in March, his promoter Eddie Hearn said.

Joshua lost his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts to Ukraine’s Usyk on a unanimous points decision at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last month.

“He (Joshua) has got his head back in the game,” Hearn said in an interview. “He is training now and today we officially triggered the rematch for the Oleksandr Usyk fight, which we will see early next spring.”

“We’re looking for him to become a three-time heavyweight world champion. I think realistically March is when you’re likely to see the rematch.”

A possible world heavyweight unification fight between Joshua and compatriot Tyson Fury, the WBC champion, was thrown into uncertainty after Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said he could not see it happening.

Meanwhile, Joshua’s compatriot, Tyson Fury retained his WBC heavyweight title after knocking out Deontay Wilder with a powerful right punch to the head in the 11th round at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Saturday night.

After losing the WBC belt to Fury 20 months ago in a one-sided fight, Wilder was the aggressor early, using his jab to back up the larger Fury while seizing on every opportunity to throw his powerful right hand.

Fury weathered the early storm and knocked Wilder down in the third round with a short uppercut but the American responded in the fourth, knocking Fury down twice with shots to the head from close range.

However, like he did when he was knocked down in the 12th round of their first meeting, Fury absorbed the punishment and picked himself up.

From there, Fury took control as he knocked Wilder off his feet in the 10th round before ending the brutal affair with a clean right hand to the side of his head that sent Wilder face-first into the canvas.

Although down on the score cards, the fight never felt completely out of reach for Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs) due to his right hand, but the defensive-minded Fury mostly managed to avoid it.

With the win, Fury (31-0-1) has now taken two of the three meetings between the rivals after the first fight ended in a draw and Fury dominated the second.

“It was a great fight tonight, it was worthy of any trilogy in the history of the sport,” Fury said in an interview after the fight.

“Deontay Wilder’s a top fighter, he gave me a real run for my money. I always said I’m the best in the world and he’s second best.”

Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk holds the other three titles and the winner of a fight between the two would lead to the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis 21 years ago.

That fight may have to wait, however, as Anthony Joshua earlier in the day triggered his clause for a rematch against Usyk, who defeated him last month to take the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts.

“We’ll see. I’ve just earned a well-earned break from everything. I’ve been away from me family, I’ve only been home for two weeks over the past six months,” Fury added.

“Before I think about fighting other men, I’m going to bask in this victory because this tonight was one of my greatest wins.”