Anthony Joshua poised for Saudi rematch with Oleksandr Usyk ahead of potential Tyson Fury showdown

Anthony Joshua’s rematch with Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk in Jeddah in August is likely to be announced on Monday,  potentially opening  the way to an all-British heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury by the end of the year – also in Saudi.

Joshua lost three heavyweight belts to Usyk last September in London but the two are scheduled to meet at the Jeddah Superdome on either August 13 or 20. Talks are already under way for the winner to take on Fury this winter or early in 2023. Joshua might still get to fight Fury even if he loses again to Usyk because an all-British fight would be huge box office.

Joshua is also set to reveal next week that he is switching allegiance from Sky Box Office for a global rights deal with digital sports streaming platform DAZN, with whom his promoter Eddie Hearn has an exclusive broadcast deal for his Matchroom Boxing stable. It is a major departure for 32-year-old Joshua, who has been with Sky on pay-per-view in Britain for almost his entire career.

Sky believed it they had secured the rights for the two-time world champion for its Box Office channel in the UK.

However, a last-minute move has seen Joshua complete a deal with DAZN which is understood by Telegraph Sport to be a multi-year contract including at least two fights a year, and will be pay-per-view on the subscription platform owned by billionaire Sir Len Blavatnik. DAZN used a similar process for Mexican boxing star Saul Canelo Alvarez as its seeks to grow its online audience.  

Telegraph Sport also understands that it was Hearn who persuaded Joshua to switch broadcasters. Regardless of whether Joshua wins back the belts in a difficult rematch with Usyk, Hearn and executives from DAZN will make overtures to Fury, holder of the World