Comments Thread For: Joshua vs. Usyk Could Very Well Happen in 2019, Says Hearn

[champion4ever]

Hasn't Usyk got a mandatory status himself as the WBA super champ or something? I thought read something saying he had the right to challenge the WBA Champ above and/or bellow CW.

No, that was for the WBO. He is currently their Super cruiserweight champion. Therefore, once he decides to move up and make the leap to the heavyweight division, then he would automatically become Anthony Joshua's mandatory challenger for his WBO heavyweight championship.

[Citizen Koba]

No, that was for the WBO. He is currently their Super cruiserweight champion. Therefore, once he decides to move up and make the leap to the heavyweight division, then he would automatically become Anthony Joshua's mandatory challenger for his WBO heavyweight championship.

http://www.wboboxing.com/regulations/

(section 14)

ELIGIBILITY TO BE CONSIDERED FOR DESIGNATION AS THE MANDATORY CHALLENGER IN HIGHER OR LOWER DIVISION.

If requested by a Super Champion, the Championship Committee may designate the Super Champion as the mandatory challenger for the immediate higher or lower division.

(my emphasis)



I don't think it's an automatic right, but I think the committee generally goes along with it if so requested.

[_Rexy_]

No, that was for the WBO. He is currently their Super cruiserweight champion. Therefore, once he decides to move up and make the leap to the heavyweight division, then he would automatically become Anthony Joshua's mandatory challenger for his WBO heavyweight championship.

He has to request it, it’s not automatic. We just treat it as automatic because who the hell moves up a division and doesn’t want a title shot?

Edit - good post Kobra. Didn’t know it also worked for going down in weight. Usyk/Alvarez would be an entertaining dust up

[Tom Cruise]

With a tune up or two, this is easily the most intriguing matchup for Joshua, aside from Wilder/Fury.

Ya Whytes, Millers, Pulevs and the like are decent, but they are a good few steps below the top dogs. Usyk at least has the factor of being light years ahead of the HWs in terms of ring IQ and skill set, coupled with his size disadvantage which makes every punch he takes an ‘oooh’ moment

[champion4ever]

http://www.wboboxing.com/regulations/

(section 14)




(my emphasis)



I don't think it's an automatic right, but I think the committee generally goes along with it if so requested.

He has to request it, it’s not automatic. We just treat it as automatic because who the hell moves up a division and doesn’t want a title shot?

Edit - good post Kobra. Didn’t know it also worked for going down in weight. Usyk/Alvarez would be an entertaining dust up

Technically speaking you two are correct. However, what will prevent him from cashing his lottery ticket once he moves up to the Heavyweight division, where the biggest cash cow in boxing resides? Nothing! You two can be rest assured that he and his team are going to stake their claim to that title. You can take that one to the bank if you want.

[Citizen Koba]

Technically speaking you two are correct. However, what will prevent him from cashing his lottery ticket once he moves up to the Heavyweight division, where the biggest cash cow in boxing resides? Nothing! You two can rest assure that he and his team are going to stake their claim to that title. You can take that one to the bank if you want.

Oh, I'm absolutely sure he will. Dude is gunning for glory for sure... my only thought is that there's a lot - a lot - of money at stake in the HW championship at the moment and none of the sanctioning orgs are above a little nudge from the money men. If Hearn ain't happy about him facing Joshua straight away then the committee may decide he should have to fight someone else first (probably Whyte)... it's all good though. Sure he'll get there in the end.

[champion4ever]

With a tune up or two, this is easily the most intriguing matchup for Joshua, aside from Wilder/Fury.

Ya Whytes, Millers, Pulevs and the like are decent, but they are a good few steps below the top dogs. Usyk at least has the factor of being light years ahead of the HWs in terms of ring IQ and skill set, coupled with his size disadvantage which makes every punch he takes an ‘oooh’ moment

Agreed; Given his amateur pedigree, he is easily the more scientific and fundamentally sound fighter, that Joshua would have ever challenged inside of a professional prize ring or his entire career.

[_Rexy_]

Technically speaking you two are correct. However, what will prevent him from cashing his lottery ticket once he moves up to the Heavyweight division, where the biggest cash cow in boxing resides? Nothing! You two can be rest assured that he and his team are going to stake their claim to that title. You can take that one to the bank if you want.

We are 100% in agreement. Which is why I said “who moves up and turns down a title shot?” If I’m Eddie I’m already saving up for a big step aside package, because Usyk is the type of fighter that will come take all of Joshua’s belts with no interest on television.

[Andre_parker1]

when Joshua beats him you're gonna have the haters saying he beat a blown up cruiserweight despite the fact that he weighs virtually the same as wilder

[champion4ever]

Oh, I'm absolutely sure he will. Dude is gunning for glory for sure... my only thought is that there's a lot - a lot - of money at stake in the HW championship at the moment and none of the sanctioning orgs are above a little nudge from the money men. If Hearn ain't happy about him facing Joshua straight away then the committee may decide he should have to fight someone else first (probably Whyte)... it's all good though. Sure he'll get there in the end.

No, Dillian Whyte is currently ranked highest on the priority list of mandatory challengers for Anthony Joshua. He is next in line for Anthony Joshua's April 13 WBO title defense. Right now he is at the top of the pecking order until Usyk decides to move up and stake his claim to the WBO title because at the moment he is yet still contending as their Super Cruiserweight champion.

However, I agree with you about the sanctioning bodies. You are right. Promoters like Eddie Hearn, wields a lot of power and influence over them, given all the money he has to throw around. So it wouldn't surprise me in the least bit, if the WBO were to have a change of heart regarding Oleksandr Usyk's Super champion status.