Joshua rematch against Usyk to start late, Kamaru Usman to fight in Utah same day
Nigeria and British boxing fans won't quite have to stay up all night to watch it.
Nigeria-born former heavyweight champion of the world, Anthony Joshua’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk is set to take place at 11 pm Nigeria time on August 20.
There had been much hope that the bout would take place in the UK, only for it to be taken to Saudi Arabia.
Unlike big fights in the United States, however, Nigeria and British boxing fans won't quite have to stay up all night to watch it.
Event organisers predict that Joshua vs Usyk 2 will commence at around 12:54 am local time.
With Saudi Arabia two hours ahead of Nigeria and the UK, that means that, by the time the ring walks are concluded, action should be beginning at around 11 pm.
And it means a 6pm start for fans on America's East Coast, or 3pm for those out West.
When Joshua and Usyk finally take to the ring, fans will have had around eight hours of action to feast their eyes on.
The undercard is set to begin at 5 pm local time and 3 pm in Nigeria and the UK.
It features much anticipated bouts including Filip Hrgovic's title eliminator against Zhang Zhilei and Callum Smith's versus Mathieu Bauderlique.
Badou Jack will also be in action against Richard Rivera.
Next week will be full of the build-up to the big fight in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua and Usyk will take part in a media and public workout between 3pm and 6:30pm Nigeria and UK time on Tuesday.
The pre-fight press conference will then go down at midday on Wednesday at the Shangri-La Hotel.
Friday will see the ceremonial weigh-ins take place between 11am and 3pm at King Abdullah Sports City.
Before all the action commences on Saturday.
Joshua, 32, has been showing off his brutal body shots in training this week.
His bout with Usyk will be just one of a number of events for fight fans to feast their eyes upon that night.
Nigeria-born UFC fighter Kamaru Usman will fight Leon Edwards who will aim to become Britain's first UFC champion since Michael Bisping when in Utah.
Bisping, 43, reckons that Joshua has to beat Usyk... or it'll be the "end of the road" for the former heavyweight champion.
The Count told his YouTube channel: "If Joshua wants to continue to be one of the best, to go down in history as potentially the best British fighter we had and champion of the world, then he has to win this fight.
“One has to think, I’m not trying to be negative here, if Joshua loses this fight then it’s the end of the road."
