Oleksandr Usyk: record, next fight and profile →
Oleksandr Usyk’s fight with Dereck Chisora could end up in Saudi Arabia if that country comes out of the coronavirus lockdown ahead of the UK. The heavyweight clash had due to take place at the O2 Arena, London, on May 23, but that date was scrapped when the British Boxing Board of Control stopped all shows until the end of May.
The British Boxing Board of Control has extended its suspension of all tournaments until the end of May due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, effectively pulling the plug on both of Matchroom’s scheduled pay-per-view heavyweight events during the month. Dillian Whyte was supposed to be facing Alexander Povetkin on May 2 in Manchester, with Katie Taylor boxing Amanda Serrano on the undercard, while Oleksandr Usyk was scheduled to face Dereck Chisora at the O2 Arena, London, on May 23.
Former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker would love to get the opportunity to face Oleksandr Usyk - if the Olympic gold medal winner is able to overcome Derek Chisora on May 23rd in Manchester. In what will be his second fight as a heavyweight, Usyk will take on Chisora on the May date - but their contest may get pushed back to a later date.
David Haye expected more from Oleksandr Usyk in his first fight at heavyweight after unifying the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO cruiserweight titles. Usyk beat Chazz Witherspoon by technical knockout after the seventh round, when Witherspoon’s trainer, Tommy Brooks, stopped their fight October 12 in Chicago. The 38-year-old Witherspoon was exhausted when their scheduled 12-round encounter ended, but he took that fight on only four days’ notice because Usyk’s original opponent, Tyrone Spong, failed a performance-enhancing drug test.
David Haye says he has never spoken to Dereck Chisora about the possibility of fighting Anthony Joshua, but said he is sure he would if he got his chance. Chisora has often expressed a reluctance about facing Joshua, as they both came through the ranks at Finchley Amateur Boxing Club.
IBF, IBO, WBO, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua views Derek Chisora as a very dangerous opponent for Oleksandr Usyk. Usyk, a former undisputed cruiserweight champion, is taking part in his second fight as a heavyweight when he faces Chisora on May 23rd at the O2 Arena in London.
Promoter Eddie Hearn admits that it's looking less likely that his two scheduled pay-per-view events will proceed as planned in the month of May. On May 2 in Manchester, Dillian Whyte is scheduled to collide with former world champion Alexander Povetkin.
Former undisputed cruiserweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk is coming for everyone in the heavyweight division. Usyk made his heavyweight debut last October, when he stopped late replacement Chazz Witherspoon. At the moment, Usyk is scheduled to face dangerous veteran Derek Chisora on May 23 at The O2 Arena in London.
Being in isolation will be easy for Oleksandr Usyk as he prepares for what he hopes will be a May 23 date with Dereck Chisora. While many across Europe are being forced to self-isolate, Usyk says he is looking forward to some solitude in training camp and says one of the reasons for taking the fight with Chisora was to have a break from family life.
Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom has a right to be nervous these days. Because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, his company was forced to cancel all of their boxing events in the UK, Italy and United States, for the months of March and April.