Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2: Why is the fight in Saudi Arabia?

One of, if not the, biggest boxing fights of this calendar year has to be Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 – but why is the fight taking place in Saudi Arabia?

Labelled the ‘Rage on the Red Sea’, Joshua against Usyk is one of the most eagerly anticipated rematches in recent times, after a stellar performance from the Ukrainian in the first match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London saw him walk away with the WBA, IBO and WBO belts.

Usyk was nothing short of an animal in this first bout. He was light on his feet, agile and he essentially just outclassed Joshua in his own backyard. A masterclass of a performance from a terrific boxer.

The first fight went the full distance, so it will be interesting to see how Joshua tweaks his game plan in the rematch to try and obtain the victory, but it begs the question – is Usyk simply just a class above? Nevertheless, it’s going to be a terrific encounter between two great fighters that will be watched by millions around the globe.

But with the fight just being announced to be taking place on Saturday 20th August 2022, the destination for the fight has also been announced – which is Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Why is this the case? Read on below to find out.

Read More: Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2: Date, Card, UK Start Time, Ring Walks, Tickets, Live Stream, Odds and More

There will be many reasons why the fight is held in Saudi Arabia. But the biggest factor in the neutral venue is the fact that the fight could simply not go ahead in Ukraine because of the ongoing conflict between them and Russia.

Due to the fact Joshua was able to box in his backyard in the first leg, Usyk would have had to option to choose to fight in his homeland if the circumstances differentiated –