Joshua will fight Usyk on September 25, Hearn confirms

Eddie Hearn has confirmed that September 25 will be the date for Anthony Joshua’s fight with Oleksandr Usyk.

The WBO ordered Joshua to step into the ring against with former undisputed cruiserweight champion Usyk as a proposed all-British heavyweight battle with Tyson Fury fell through.

IBF, WBA and WBO champion, Joshua was due to take on Fury in Saudi Arabia in August before a court arbitration in the United States ruled the WBC strap-holder must face Deontay Wilder for a third time.

With Fury and Wilder III set to be staged in Las Vegas on July 24, Joshua (24-1) will come up against Ukrainian Usyk (18-0) two months later.

Joshua’s promoter, Hearn did not reveal a venue for the bout, but revealed during an Instagram live chat: “Working towards September 18 or September 25.”

The Matchroom boss added: “Joshua-Usyk announcement? Don’t want to say two weeks, because you guys are bored of me, saying that, but soon – September 25 is the date.”

Joshua, this week, vowed a showdown with Fury is still on the cards.

“Unfortunately, his [Fury’s] team let the whole boxing world down,” Joshua told Sky Sports. “I will still be here, still ready to put on a show.

“[The Fury fight can happen at the] end of the year. Let me get past Usyk first. But with or without Usyk in my life, I will fight Fury.

“Usyk isn’t the be-all and end-all. Usyk doesn’t determine the Fury fight. The Fury fight has to happen. It’s a big fight, bigger than boxing, bigger than the belts.

“It will happen. After the Usyk fight, after I will defend my belts. The fight will be bigger, better than what it would have been.”