For as long as he’s officially campaigned as a heavyweight, Oleksandr Usyk has aimed for his next fight to be for the heavyweight title.
His team is now at the point where any other option simply won’t be accepted.
The unbeaten former World cruiserweight king picked up his second win at heavyweight, surviving a stiff challenge from Derek Chisora (32-10, 23KOs) to claim a unanimous decision in their October 31 clash in London. Usyk won by scores of 117-111, 117-111 and 115-113 for his first victory since making his divisional debut 54 weeks prior in a 7th round stoppage of Chazz Witherspoon last October in Chicago, Illinois.
Ukraine’s Usyk (18-0, 13KOs) entered Saturday’s fight as one of the mandatory challengers to the slew of titles currently in the possession of England’s Anthony Joshua (23-1, 21KOs). Usyk begrudgingly agreed to first face Chisora despite having been named the number-one contender by the World Boxing Organization late in 2019, not wanting to have to wait deep into 2021 for what he feels is his owed title shot.
“Usyk offered his highest achievement in cruiserweights to obtain the mandatory position in heavy,” Alexander Krassyuk, managing director of K2-Ukraine—Usyk’s co-promoter along with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing—told BoxingScene.com. “As his promoter the fairest thing I can do for him is to ensure that his sacrifice is not in vain.”
Joshua is also promoted by Matchroom Boxing, whom for months has understandably angled for an undisputed showdown with countryman Tyson Fury (30-0-1, 21KOs). Joshua owns the WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO titles, while Fury is the WBC claimant and recognized as the World (lineal) heavyweight champion.
Standing in the way of the first ever undisputed heavyweight championship between Brits, however, are mandatory challenges. Joshua will next defend versus IBF number-one contender Kubrat Pulev on December 12. Fury was due to face former titlist Deontay Wilder (42-1-1, 41KOs) in a third fight, though such a bout remains without a date and—depending upon whom you ask—is possibly beyond its contractual obligation.
Fury is next aiming to fight December 5, with his team having named Agit Kabayel as a leading candidate. The hope from there is to march directly into an undisputed showdown with Joshua, providing that both win.
Usyk is prepared to serve as a road block.
“I am the mandatory challenger,” the unbeaten southpaw told Sky Sports. “]Joshua] has two options. One; to fight me. Two; to vacate [the WBO title] and to go and fight Fury.
“Either he fights me or relinquishes [the WBO title]. I am waiting. I am ready."
His team is equally prepared to fight the good fight outside the ring to secure him the biggest one between the ropes.
“We must deliver the heavyweight championship fight for him as [soon] as possible,” insists Krassyuk. “And we will stand our ground.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
