Oleksandr Usyk evidently won’t back down.
The WBO’s mandatory heavyweight challenger told Sky Sports that he plans to exercise his right to face the winner of the Anthony Joshua-Kubrat Pulev fight next, assuming Usyk beats Derek Chisora this fall.
Joshua holds three heavyweight titles, including the WBO version. He has expressed interest in fighting the winner of Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder to unify all four major titles.
“Usyk has been the WBO mandatory challenger for more than one year,” his co-promoter Alexander Krassyuk told Sky Sports.
“He has agreed to let AJ versus Pulev happen, with regards that the winner fights him next. This statement is still solid. Our plan is ‘A’ beat Derek Chisora, ‘B’ push AJ to comply with WBO rules or vacate the title, ‘C’ defeat AJ [or Pulev].
“Simple and practical.”
No date has been set for Usyk-Chisora.
“According to our latest talks with [co-promoter] Eddie [Hearn], Usyk vs Chisora has to go at the end of October,” Krassyuk said. “Still, much depends on COVID-19 restrictions, but we all want to make it happen.”
Joshua-Pulev has been targeted for Dec. 12. The third Fury-Wilder fight has no date.
Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) is the former undisputed cruiserweight champion. He made his heavyweight debut against Chazz Witherspoon last October, winning by seventh-round stoppage, and hasn’t fought since.