Oleksandr Usyk: record, next fight and profile →
Earlier this month in Saudi Arabia, Anthony Joshua reclaimed the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight titles when he won a twelve round unanimous decision over Andy Ruiz in their rematch. Now Joshua has two mandatory obligations at the table - and both sanctioning organizations have ordered Joshua to make a defense.
Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn is already playing out his heavyweight deck of cards for 2020. Oleksandr Usyk will fight Dereck Chisora on March 7, Hearn told BoxingScene.com in an interview. The fight is tentatively being tabled, just to see if Anthony Joshua has to first move forward with his IBF mandatory with Kubrat Pulev.
Anthony Joshua will next be facing either Kubrat Pulev or Oleksandr Usyk, mandatory challengers for the IBF and WBO respectively, and he suggested that the first of those fights could happen as early as late March, despite his promoter, Eddie Hearn, saying it would take place in May.
Former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew is more than familiar with undefeated Oleksandr Usyk. Usyk unified the entire cruiserweight division last year, and then knocked out Bellew - which was the final fight of the Liverpool star's career. After that bout, Usyk vacated his four belts and officially moved up to heavyweight.
With the belts now back in Anthony Joshua’s possession following his win in the ring, comes the fights beyond the ropes to get next in line for the two-time heavyweight titlist. England’s Joshua (23-1, 21KOs) was able to avenge the lone loss of his pro career in style, cleanly outboxing California’s Andy Ruiz (33-2, 22KOs) over 12 rounds last weekend in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. The 2012 Olympic Gold medalist and box office giant joins former World champions Floyd Patterson, Muhammad Ali and Lennox Lewis as the only heavyweights ever to reclaim their prize in a straightaway rematch after losing the crown.
Eddie Hearn, promoter of IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, has indicated that Kubrat Pulev appears to be leading the pack as the next opponent for his boxer. This past Saturday night in Saudi Arabia, Joshua won a twelve round unanimous decision over Andy Ruiz to reclaim his four world titles.
Anthony Joshua’s next fight looks likely to be at the new 62,000-seater Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London against either Oleksandr Usyk or Kubrat Pulev. Joshua regained his WBA, WBO, IBO and IBF heavyweight titles with a landslide points win over Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia on Saturday and has told Eddie Hearn, his promoter, that he wants a fight back in London next, after twice boxing abroad in 2019.
Anthony Joshua says he will be back in the gym before Christmas after regaining his WBA, IBO, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles by a wide unanimous points decision over Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia. Joshua said he would only take a short holiday before going back into training, hinting that he had neglected his craft in favour of commercial activities ahead of his loss to Ruiz in June.
Anthony Joshua may well be in a celebratory mood –– but he has already had a potential future challenge thrust upon him. The 30-year-old boxed the Mexican, who slipped to 33-2 (22 KOs) in defeat, in Saudi Arabia, regaining the WBA Super, IBF, IBO and WBO heavyweight crowns.
Heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte believes his former foe, Derek Chisora, is fully capable of pulling off a shocker in a potential fight against Oleksandr Usyk. There is talk that Chisora and Usyk will collide in 2020 - and there is a chance that the vacant WBO world title would at stake - if the winner of Saturday's rematch, between Andy Ruiz and Anthony Joshua, decides to vacate the title instead of making a mandatory defense against Usyk.