The most iconic heavyweight rematches as Anthony Joshua plots his revenge against Oleksandr Usyk   

Anthony Joshua‘s fate hangs in the balance as he takes on Oleksandr Usyk in an all-important rematch on Saturday night. Their blockbuster bout will add to a long list of iconic heavyweight rematches. 

AJ is out for revenge after losing his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts in an unanimous points decision at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in September last year. However, history may not be on his side. 

Sportsmail have taken a look back at the most epic heavyweight rematches in history and how each boxer got on ahead of Joshua’s do-over in Saudi Arabia on Saturday evening.  

Floyd Patterson vs Sonny Liston 

September 25, 1962 / July 22, 1963 

Floyd Patterson and Sonny Liston went head-to-head in 1962. 

Fans were excited to see the heavyweight boxers fight as they believed it would be an even contest. However, Patterson was sent flying to the canvas in the first half of the first round. 

The former title holder – who had just been embarrassed – activated the rematch clause in his contract and took to the ring once again.

However, Liston knocked Patterson down three more times and won the rematch. 

Sonny Liston vs Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) 

February 25, 1964 / May 25, 1965

Liston felt untouchable after his triumph over Patterson and decided to take on Cassius Clay – who became known as Muhammad Ali. 

The pair stepped into the ring on February 25, 1964 with Liston being touted as the favourite to win the fight. 

However, he struggled to compete with Clay and lasted just six rounded before retiring to his corner. As a result, Clay became the new champion and Liston wallowed in frustration. 

The pair went head-to-head in a rematch in May 1965. 

Liston was hoping to get his revenge but Ali knocked him out in the first round with what has been dubbed the ‘phantom punch’. 

Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield 

November 9, 1996 / June 28, 1997 

Mike Tyson became one of the biggest names on the boxing scene and fans flocked to various venues to see his explosive power and lethal punch. 

One of Tyson’s most fiercely competitive fights came again Evander Holyfield – ten years after he won his first heavyweight title. The paid stepped into the ring at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on November 9, 1996. 

Tyson was the favourite heading into the fight but Holyfield caused a serious upset by stopping Iron Mike in the 11th round of their blockbuster bout. 

The pair wasted no time organising a rematch and stepped back into the ring on June 28, 1997. Tyson was hoping to inflict some pain on his opponent but Holyfield couldn’t have been more in control. 

Tyson grew frustrated with his inability to end the fight and took a bite out of Holyfield’s ear while they were holding onto each other. The ref subsequently called off the fight.  

Lennox Lewis vs Oliver McCall 

September 24, 1994 / February 7, 1997

Lennox Lewis was the WBC champion when he stepped into the ring to face Oliver McCall. 

He was the favourite to win the fight but the underdog pulled off a sensational upset by knocking Lewis out in the second round. 

Lewis was shocked and demanded the pair fight again. However, it took three years for their rematch to be set up. During that time Lewis trained hard and established himself as a boxing legend. 

When the pair returned to the canvas for their rematch in February 1997, it was Lewis who walked away victorious. He knocked McCall out in the fifth round to grab the bragging rights. 

Lennox Lewis vs Hasim Rahman 

April 22, 2001 / November 17, 2001

Lewis suffered another disappointing defeat in 2001 when he was knocked out by Hasim Rahman. However, he gained his revenge later that year when he returned the favour. 

Lewis came into fight prepared and dominated the duration of the fight. 

He used his trademark left jab to dominate Rahman and even cut the South African boxer’s left eye in the first round. 

Lewis went on to knock Rahman out in the fourth round of the rematch – which was billed as the Final Judgement. 

Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz 

June 1, 2019 / December 7, 2019 

Perhaps Joshua can take some inspiration from his own comeback story – having suffered a mortifying defeat to Andy Ruiz before inflicting his revenge on the Mexican. 

Ruiz – who was regarded as the underdog heading into the fight – stunned Joshua and snatched his world titles in June 2019.  The Mexican managed to knock AJ down four times and claimed a seventh round stoppage. 

It is regarded as one of the biggest boxing upsets in history and it took Joshua a while to get over. Carl Froch even says Joshua lost a bit of his spirit that he will never get back after that fight. 

However, Joshua stepped back into the ring to face Ruiz for a second time on December 7, 2019 and won on an unanimous points decision to regain his titles.  

Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk

September 25, 2021 / August 20, 2022 

Joshua was completely out-boxed by Usyk when the pair faced each other at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in September last year. 

The Ukrainian boxer cruised to an unanimous points decision after going 12 rounds with AJ. As a result, Usyk claimed the unified WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight world titles.  

Josh will be looking to regain his titles when they face each other for a second time on August 20 out in Saudi Arabi. However, the British boxer has a serious task on his hands.