Alexander Usik in London (photo + video)

The most important boxing weekend of September is just days away. This coming Saturday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, the heavyweight bout between WBA, WBO and IBF champion Anthony Joshua and challenger Aleksandr Usik.

The teams of Alexander Usik and Anthony Joshua have already arrived at the venue of their bout and will hold an open training session today, September 21.

The 31-year-old Briton will make his second defence of his crown since regaining his titles in December 2019. Joshua had previously made three defences over a two-year period until he lost by knockout to Andy Ruiz in June 2019. That same year, he regained his belt and defended it in December 2020 in a fight against Kubrat Pulev.

Now he faces a new challenge - Ukraine's Usik, the 2012 London Olympic champion and former absolute featherweight king. The 34-year-old left-hander has had two fights in the heavyweight division and has been given the opportunity to challenge the world champion.

Joshua has 24 wins, 1 loss and 22 knockouts, while Usik has yet to lose in his 18 fights, 13 of which he won early.

Photo by Mark Robinson.