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Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to make boxing bow with Joshua v Usyk

Boxing is finally set to debut at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 25 after the London venue was confirmed as host of the heavyweight title fight between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk.

The fight will see Joshua put his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO world titles on the line against Usyk, with the Ukrainian being his mandatory challenger. The bout comes after Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was due to host Joshua’s fight against Kubrat Pulev on June 20 last year.

Joshua had been due to defend his world titles against Pulev in what would have marked the first major boxing event at English Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium. The fight was called off due to COVID-19 back in April 2020, and was ultimately moved from The O2 to SSE Arena, Wembley due to promoter logistics.

Tottenham has a boxing history, with the club’s old White Hart Lane ground having staged the first heavyweight promotion for Joshua’s representatives, Matchroom Boxing. That event, in October 1987, saw Frank Bruno defeat Joe Bugner.

Daniel Levy, chairman of Tottenham Hotspur, said: “This is a huge occasion for Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – Anthony Joshua is an icon in the world of sport and to have him fight here in London N17, against a top opponent in Oleksandr Usyk, will be amazing for the area of Tottenham. This event will once again showcase the stadium’s ability to take the hosting of world-class sporting occasions to the next level – we cannot wait for September 25.”

Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport chairman, added: “Olympic gold vs. Olympic gold, unified world heavyweight champion vs. undisputed cruiserweight world champion. This one has it all and I can’t wait to stage this huge event in front of over 60,000 at the stunning Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 25.”

Image: Matchroom Boxing