Football
  • Home
  • News
  • Oleksandr Usyk In Talks To Become Anthony Joshua'S Next Opponent

Oleksandr Usyk in talks to become Anthony Joshua's next opponent

Oleksandr Usyk

"If the fight is off then there is no other obstacles and Joshua has to deal with his mandatory."

Oleksandr Usyk's promoter will hold talks with Eddie Hearn over a possible showdown against Anthony Joshua. It has been reported that a potential undisputed showdown between Joshua and Tyson Fury is on the verge of collapsing.

Arbitrator Daniel Weinstein has ruled that Fury has to face Deontay Wilder for a third time before September 15.

The civil case result was not expected to have an impact on Joshua-Fury but the shock verdict has huge implications on the undisputed showdown, which was expected for August 14.

Weinstein stated the deadline could be extended if Wilder receives a substantial fee to step-aside. 

Bob Arum has dismissed any chance of it, though. Instead, the Hall of Fame promoter has reserved July 24 for Fury-Wilder after refusing to pay a settlement fee to move Wilder out of the heavyweight equation.

Usyk - the WBO mandatory - is now in line to face Joshua and Alexander Krassyuk will sit down with Hearn and discuss their options.

The Ukrainian southpaw is rated as one of boxing's Pound for Pound stars having won the 2018 World Boxing Super Series edition at cruiserweight before retiring Tony Bellew.

The former undisputed champion at 200 pounds has since moved up to heavyweight and most recently overcame a determined Derek Chisora.

"The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes this morning was several texts on my phone from different people around the world stating the same fact: Fury versus AJ is off. It is off," Krassyuk told Express Sport.

"It looks like we have a fight to make. We have agreed to speak in one hour when things will become clearer.
"Usyk is mandatory for WBO and the only obstacle that made them sanction the interim was the huge unification between Fury and Joshua.
"And if the fight is off then there is no other obstacles and Joshua has to deal with his mandatory."
If you asked me I would be happy to make the fight in Kiev. This is just my desire to make it," Krassyuk added.

"In London? Well you never know. Maybe another city in the UK or Saudi Arabia or any other spot on planet earth. We'd do it."

Usyk vs Joyce never on the table

The WBO had ordered Usyk to face Joe Joyce next for the interim belt with Hearn plotting Joshua's Battle of Britain bout against Fury. Talks between both camps failed to come into fruition.
"It didn't go far, because it never happened," Krassyuk said. "The only time I was speaking about Joyce vs Usyk was in January.
"There was no negotiations with Frank Warren or with anyone else.
"Egis Klimas, the manager, had a lovely conversation with Frank Warren on the phone and just mentioned that this fight might take place.
"The real reason for us not negotiating with each other was that we did not have the exact ruling of the split.

Joe Joyce is undefeated from 12 bouts and defeated Daniel Dubois most recently

"The WBO agreed and approved that the split should be 80-20, Queensbury Promotions objected the fact and went to the grievance committee of the WBO and we were supposed to have the online meeting in two days.
"I'm not sure if it will still take place after this kind of news [Joshua vs Fury in doubt] has emerged."

    More Articles