OLEKSANDR USYK is expected to leave Ukraine and start training for a blockbuster rematch with Anthony Joshua.
Usyk, who joined the territorial defence after Russia invaded, was given permission by the nation’s Sports Minister to leave the country despite the ongoing war – although under the current law he was free to leave at any time because of his young children.
Oleksandr Usyk (second from right) is said to be leaving Ukraine to train for an Anthony Joshua rematchCredit: Instagram @andrii_nebytovUsky beat Anthony Joshua in September but a rematch is on holdCredit: AFP
After fellow boxing hero Vasyl Lomachenko declined to leave for his own title fight with George Kambosos in June, it was not clear if Usyk would follow suit and stay or meet Joshua in the ring.
But a source told SunSport late last night: “It is true. Usyk is moving to his training camp in Europe.”
That would appear to give the green light for a mega-fight with AJ sometime in June.
Earlier this week, promoter Eddie Hearn predicted two-weight world champ Usyk would be ready to face the man he dethroned.
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Hearn said on Monday: “Is AJ vs Usyk happening now? I actually think it will. I actually think that fight will happen next and it will happen in June.”
The Essex promoter rowed back on those claims on Tuesday – saying the Lomachenko decision could sway Usyk – but there seems to have been another twist in the tale.
Hearn said yesterday: “I did think that Usyk actually would take the fight – that was kind of the vibe that I was getting again.
“But now with Vasyl Lomachenko [opting to stay in Ukraine], I think it makes it more likely that he won’t.
“But all we wanna say is, ‘We’ll give you the time, it’s no problem, but we want to fight in between.’ So that’s what we’ve got to decide.”
Usyk is said to be reluctant to leave his brothers-in-arms – but some reports claim his team is worried he will lose his advantage over AJ if the Watford-born star is allowed to have an interim opponent to boost his confidence.
Lomachenko has faced a similar question after seeing his lightweight world title fight with Kambosos Jr shelved.
Kambosos said: “I respect your decision and I totally understand and I pray for you and your country.
“Please stay safe and once I wipe the floor with Devin [Haney], we will make this fight between two real champions. God bless.”
Vasiliy Lomachenko has elected to stay in Ukraine instead of face George KambososCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Kambosos Jr is now targeting a match-up against America’s Devin Haney in an undisputed contest.
The Sydney native’s promoter Lou DiBella has declared he has nothing but admiration for Lomachenko.
He told ESPN: “How can anyone question, the fight he’s going through right now is much bigger than any boxing match.
“We made a deal with him, the deal was literally done before the invasion, we wanted to give him any chance within reason with our allowable timetable.
“We have nothing but the utmost respect for his decision. Kambosos wanted to make sure once we made that deal that Lomachenko had ample time to decide.
“We said all along we would try to make the biggest fights and we did that today.”
