The man who holds the majority of the heavyweight titles has spoken out on the rumours of a fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, and where it leaves him.
Oleksandr Usyk’s rise to heavyweight greatness was like something from a movie. After becoming undisputed champion at cruiserweight, he jumped up a division with one goal – to do it all again.
Taking Joshua’s heavyweight titles, and then beating him again for good measure, brought fans closer to an undisputed heavyweight champion than we have been in years. WBC Champion Tyson Fury certainly seemed up for it.
Things began to unravel when Usyk dismissed ‘The Gypsy King’s talk of a December fight. Citing long-term niggles and a need to return to his war-torn homeland, the Ukrainian insisted on early 2023.
Since then, Fury has pursued a fight with Joshua and is having, some would say surprisingly, apparent success. Usyk is well aware of the negotiations. Speaking to Ring Magazine, Usyk first addressed the potential all-British heavyweight fight between a former opponent and a potential one.
“I don’t have many feelings about [Fury and Joshua fighting]. I don’t really care if Fury wants to fight somebody. My team is working on getting me back in the ring.”
“And no, no, I’m not pissed off at all. The bigger problem is Tyson Fury is not letting fans see one of the best historical bouts in boxing history. That’s his fault. Not mine. So, I’m not pissed off at all. Tyson Fury can fight whoever he wants to fight.”
“From the standpoint of sportsmanship, of course it’s not correct [that Fury fight Joshua instead of him].”
So what does that mean for the undefeated Ukrainian champion? Following the ‘AJ’ rematch, he said he wanted Tyson Fury or nobody. Things seemed to have changed since then. Asked who he would like to face next, he was clear.
“Deontay Wilder. Wilder is a dangerous fighter, and that fight would most likely be in the United States.”
Wilder’s incredible power versus Usyk’s unbelievable skill – it’s certainly not a fight that fans would avoid. ‘The Bronze Bomber’ first has to be victorious in his comeback fight with Robert Helenius. Usyk went on to say that the chances are he will be ringside for that scrap on October 8 in Brooklyn.
Should he come through that test, the American who held the WBC title for so long might get a crack at the other belts if things pan out the way Usyk wants them to.