Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
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Anthony Joshua has asked Oleksandr Usyk to delay his mandatory challenge so A.J. can unify all four major titles against fellow titleholder Tyson Fury.
Joshua, who holds the IBF, WBA and WBO belts, and Fury, the WBC champion, are in talks to fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship this year. However, WBO officials have made it clear they expect Usyk to get his shot before Joshua and Fury meet.
Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, have suggested that he might vacate the WBO belt in order to make the Fury fight happen and then — if he wins — challenge whomever holds the WBO to become undisputed champion.
However, Usyk, the mandatory WBO challenger for more than a year, is keen to have own title fight after the sanctioning body allowed Joshua to fight Andy Ruiz Jr. a second time and then defend his titles against Kubrat Pulev on Dec. 12.
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Usyk reportedly has indicated that he might be willing to wait a little longer if he were guaranteed a fight with the Joshua-Fury winner and, presumably, compensated financially for stepping aside.
“I think Usyk will be keen to step aside and let the fight happen,” Joshua said. “We’ve reached out to his management team. He’s a reasonable person, and he’ll understand the magnitude of this situation.”
Usyk last fought in November, when he defeated Derek Chisora to retain his mandatory designation.
If Usyk’s team does indeed insist on their title fight and force the WBO to strip Joshua, unbeaten Brit Joe Joyce — who put the first blemish on Daniel Dubois’ record in November — is the leading candidate to battle Usyk for the vacated title.
Also in the running would be the winner of Junior Fa vs. former WBO champ Joseph Parker on Feb. 27.