OLEKSANDR USYK expects to scupper the historic undisputed decider between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury by enforcing his mandatory title shot.
After Fury, 31, dethroned Deontay Wilder, 34, of the WBC belt in February it set him up for a unification against WBA, IBF and WBO boss Joshua.
Oleksandr Usyk wants to scupper the unification between Anthony Joshua and Tyson FuryCredit: Getty
The Gypsy King first has to defeat Wilder once more with a trilogy bout agreed while 30-year-old Joshua has an IBF mandatory defence against Kubrat Pulev, 38, on June 20 at Tottenham’s stadium.
Talks for the Battle of Britain to commence after the unwanted interim bouts are said to be already happening behind closed doors.
But WBO mandatory challenger Usyk – who is lined up to face Derek Chisora on May 23 – is adamant he will force his way into the title picture and ruin plans for the mega-fight between the nation’s biggest stars.
Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas told Sky Sports: “They can’t. How can they do that? Right now, we have to win [against Chisora], then after the mandatory fight for the WBO has to happen.
“I believe Anthony also wants this fight. Good fighters want to fight good fighters. Anthony sees a good challenge in Oleksandr and wants to go there.
“Everybody says Oleksandr will give Anthony problems, but Anthony believes the opposite so wants to show that he is stronger.
“In the UK would make sense – it wouldn’t make sense to go to the States with one boxer from the UK and one from Ukraine. The UK fans know Usyk.”
All three planned next fights for Joshua, Fury and Usyk face threat of being postponed due to the deadly coronavirus, that has already postponed boxing, football, cricket and rugby worldwide.
One of boxing’s biggest weak spots is a lack of a centralised worldwide governing body – like a Fifa or World Rugby – to police issues like weight cutting, doping and other issues.
But without one ultimate ruler, the various sanctioning bodies and promoters can carry on until the Government steps in.
And 33-year-old Usyk – despite smothering himself in hand sanitiser during his press conference with Chisora – is focussed on beating Joshua’s old Finchley amateur boxing pal before challenging 6ft 6in AJ himself.
Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk, who works alongside Eddie Hearn, last week said: “As soon as Usyk completes his task with Chisora we all expect he will face AJ.
“This island holds all the heavyweight belts so that’s why we’re here digging.
“He needs to fight a tough opponent and Chisora has good experience. We decided to go this route.”
Usyk is the WBO mandatory for Joshua’s belt
Tyson Fury has to rematch Deontay Wilder before unifying the belts
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
