Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk has demanded the WBO take stronger action and enforce the Ukrainian’s mandatory title shot against Anthony Joshua.
With WBA Super, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Joshua’s unification clash with WBC king Tyson Fury still unsigned and talks dragging into March, Krassyuk – who has one fight left as Usyk’s promoter – wants to see a swift resolution.
A proposed WBO interim heavyweight title fight between Usyk and Joe Joyce, which would allow a two-fight series between Fury and Joshua to go ahead first, is also yet to be signed.
Now Krassyuk wants the WBO to enforce Usyk’s claim against Joshua to speed the process.
“If AJ vs Fury is not likely to happen this year or is rescheduled until the end of the year, AJ has to make a mandatory defence against Usyk unless he relinquishes the title,” Krassyuk told Sky Sports.
“The WBO has to gather strength and to make the courageous decision – to order AJ vs Usyk. And that will be the triumph of justice. Otherwise, boxing will accelerate its decline in popularity due to unfair and preconceived politics.
“Usyk cannot make any move as there’s no certainty around. Usyk is doing well, safe and sound, fit and working hard. And is ready to face whoever the WBO legally nominates.
“But my last conversation regarding Joyce took place in the middle of January. I talked to George Warren. Since that time, we have hardly moved anywhere.”
Krassyuk claims a lack of transparency regarding the purse split has been the primary reason for Usyk-Joyce talks not progressing from his perspective.
“The problem is that there is no frame for negotiations as the split has not been officially confirmed by the WBO,” said Krassyuk.
“The split should be defined as the average of the last three fights of both fighters. And according to my knowledge, it should look like 93 percent in favour of Usyk. The minimum allowed by the WBO is 80/20.
“Unless the split is officially fixed, any negotiations make no sense as they would not lead to an agreement.”
Sam Jones, Joyce’s manager, had a very different take on events.
“We understand that Usyk has one fight left with Alexander Krassyuk and so he is trying to push this fight towards a purse bid with Eddie Hearn so he can keep himself involved,” Jones told Sky Sports.
“As for his talk about a 93/7 split, that is clearly ridiculous. We have the utmost respect for the WBO, one of the fairest sanctioning bodies in boxing, and we are sure they will come to a fair and appropriate purse split if the matter does go to purse bids.”
Krassyuk added: “I have to keep myself involved as even though it’s our last fight, the contract is still active and my obligations towards Usyk remain the same as of the last seven years. And by the way, conducting negotiations behind a promoter’s back is a violation of the contract. And I do not think either [manager] Egis [Klimas] or Usyk will confirm the violation.
“So as of now, we are waiting for the bigger fight [Fury-Joshua] to be either announced or postponed. That would direct our further steps either to commit with the champ or to fight for the interim title. Any option is acceptable once it is made fairly and in accordance to the rules.”