Oleksandr Usyk is looking for a quick path to a title. But it looks as if the former cruiserweight champion will have to test his skills and heavyweight expectations at least one more time before his gets his chance at a belt.
Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Promotions says he is close to completing a deal for Usyk to fight Derek Chisora this spring.
“It’s very close,’’ Hearn told Sky Sports.
Hearn says he hopes to schedule Usyk-Chisora for March 28 at the O2 Arena in London. April 11 in Manchester is another option, he said.
“A brilliant fight,’’ said Hearn, who believes Chisora has re-emerged as a serious contender with David Haye, a former heavyweight and cruiserweight champion, as his manager. “A great team. They believe they can win that fight. They believe they can cause a big upset. They think Usyk can’t handle the big boys.’’
Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) made his heavyweight debut last Oct. 12 in Chicago, scoring a seventh-round stoppage of Chazz Witherspoon. But the Ukrainian appeared tentative against the 6-foot-4 Witherspoon. Despite the victory, Usyk’s performance left questions about whether the 6-3 Olympic gold medalist is big enough in a division dominated by 6-9 Tyson Fury, 6-7 Deontay Wilder and 6-6 Anthony Joshua.
Against Chisora (32-9, 23 KOs), he gets another chance. Chisora, listed at 6-2, is an inch shorter than Usyk. But he fights at about 240 pounds. Usyk was at 215 pounds for Witherspoon.