Undefeated heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk will enter the ring for the most highly anticipated rematch of the year when he renews hostilities with former two-time champion Anthony Joshua.
The fight is taking place August 20 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and can be seen on DAZN.
Online sportsbook Sportsbook has all the Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 odds. Pegged as a lengthy underdog in his first meeting with Joshua, with odds as long as +270, Usyk has turned the tables this time around, rocketing to a -220 favorite.
Conversely, Joshua is pegged as a +180 underdog to reclaim the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight belts he lost in his first date with Usyk last September.
That means sports bettors backing Usyk must wager $210 to generate winnings of $100, while a successful $100 bet on Joshua will produce a payday of $175.
Joshua vs Usyk 2 Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Anthony Joshua | +180 |
| Oleksandr Usyk | -220 |
Odds as of August 20 at Sportsbook
A deeper dive into the Joshua vs Usyk 2 odds using our sports betting calculator tells us that Usyk’s -220 odds translate to an implied win probability of 68.75 percent, while Joshua’s +180 odds have just a 35.71 percent implied win probability.
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Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 Odds Analysis
Now sporting an unblemished 19-0 record as a pro, Oleksandr Usyk has enjoyed consistent support at the sportsbooks during his decade-long pro boxing career. “The Cat” was regularly pegged as betting chalk during his climb to the top of the cruiserweight division.
His move to heavyweight has not dampened enthusiasm among sports bettors, who made him a prohibitive favorite in his first two outings at over 200 pounds, including a seventh-round finish of Chazz Witherspoon in his heavyweight debut while sporting massive -10000 odds.
Joshua In Uncharted Territory As Betting Underdog
Anthony Joshua also enjoyed a steady run as the darling of the sportsbooks during a 22-0 start to his career.
AJ sported average odds of -2175 during a seven-fight run that started with his 2016 second-round KO win over Charles Martin that earned him the IBF heavyweight crown. However, losses in two of four outings have taken the shine off at the sportsbooks.
Pegged as a -2500 favorite in his stunning seventh-round TKO loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019, Joshua sported diminished -250 odds in his successful rematch with the “Destroyer” and now finds himself as a betting underdog for the first time in his career.
Joshua vs Usyk 2 Betting Preview
In addition to lagging at the sportsbooks in his first date with Joshua, Usyk also faced the daunting task of overcoming a three-inch height deficit and four-inch reach deficit against an opponent known for his ability to wear down opponents with effective use of the jab.
However, the talented Ukrainian was able to use steady footwork and speed to effectively stay out of reach of the champion. He also regularly scored points with counterpunches that left AJ in need of a finish in the championship rounds to have any chance of victory.
Can Joshua Rebound From Another Humbling Defeat?
Joshua’s loss to Usyk drew some striking similarities to his defeat at the hands of Ruiz three years ago. AJ saw his height and reach advantages diminished by a faster fighter with a proven ability to take a punch.
An air of overconfidence didn’t help matters for the 32-year-old Englishman, who had finished opponents in all but one of his previous 21 fights.
AJ subsequently reclaimed the title in his rematch with Ruiz, outlasting the resilient Mexican to earn the unanimous decision.
The question is whether his efforts to keep Ruiz at bay in their rematch will prove as effective against Usyk, who has reportedly been training with Martin Bakole.
In addition to being the same height as AJ, Bakole likely provides Usyk with plenty of insight into the former champion, with whom he has trained extensively.
Joshua vs Usyk 2 Pick
While being forced to reclaim the heavyweight crown in a rematch is nothing new for Joshua, he is unlikely to face as easy a road this time around. AJ dominated while taking back the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles in his second date with Ruiz.
However, Ruiz was brutally honest about his failure to properly prepare for that rematch, which he entered 15 pounds heavier than their first meeting.
No such letdown should be expected from the man who currently sits atop pro boxing’s pound-for-pound rankings and is coming off a tour of duty defending his homeland as a member of Ukraine’s territorial defense forces.
Indeed, sports bettors should be less concerned with whether Usyk can defend his titles, and more with how many rounds it will take to end AJ’s night in the desert.
