Joshua v Usyk: Saudi Arabia hopes to inspire half a million boxing fans to take up sport

The world heavyweight championship rematch between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia will be significant not only in the boxing world but also beyond.

Joshua will get an opportunity to regain the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts he lost to Usyk in their first clash in London last September when the pair clash again in Jeddah on August 20.

The rematch – which has been billed as “Rage on the Red Sea” – is the second world heavyweight title fight to take place in the kingdom after the Briton’s championship rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr in Riyadh in 2019. There, Joshua regained the heavyweight belts that he subsequently lost to Usyk.

With so much at stake, Saudi Arabia will be in the spotlight once again this month. The kingdom has emerged as a hub for world-class sporting activities over the past few years with Formula One, golf and other sports taking root, alongside major football events like the Spanish Super Cup, which was held in Riyadh earlier this year.

For now, boxing is at the front and centre of the sporting landscape in the kingdom. For Prince Fahad bin Abdelaziz, spokesperson for Skill Challenge Entertainment – global rights holder for the heavyweight rematch – Joshua-Usyk 2 will only boost the already growing popularity of boxing the country.

Saudi Arabia is aiming to inspire half a million boxing enthusiasts in the country to take up the sport over the next four years, and progress is already being made on that front.

Prince Fahad Bin Abdelaziz, spokesperson for Skill Challenge Entertainment - global rights holder for the world heavyweight title rematch between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk. Image supplied

“One of the major reasons to host events like this here in the kingdom is to inspire the