As the WBO’s mandatory challenger, Oleksandr Usyk is guaranteed a shot at that sanctioning organization’s heavyweight title.

The date and opponent for that heavyweight championship match are beyond his control. Usyk made it clear, however, that he hopes he gets to battle British superstar Anthony Joshua in his next fight for that championship.

When asked during a press conference early Sunday morning in Chicago whether he’d prefer facing Andy Ruiz Jr. or Joshua in his attempt at heavyweight history, Usyk replied, “I would like Joshua.”

A showdown with Joshua obviously would be more profitable for the former undisputed cruiserweight champion. But Joshua would have to avenge his loss to Ruiz in their immediate rematch that make that bout possible again for Usyk.

Ruiz (33-1, 22 KOs) and Joshua (22-1, 21 KOs) are scheduled to fight again December 7 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, for the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO crowns Ruiz won when he upset Joshua by seventh-round technical knockout four months ago at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Ruiz-Joshua winner will have two mandatory defenses due – one against Ukraine’s Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) and another against Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev (27-1, 14 KOs), the IBF’s No. 1 contender.

Usyk wants to fight the winner in his next bout, but he deferred to promoter Eddie Hearn after he stopped American veteran Chazz Witherspoon (38-4, 29 KOs) following the seventh round Saturday night at DePaul University’s Wintrust Arena.

“It’s not a question to me,” Usyk said in reference to his next fight. “That question is to Eddie, whatever he can bring to me. But if it would be up to me, I probably would pick the winner of Joshua-Ruiz.”

Hearn told BoxingScene.com recently that if Joshua beats Ruiz, it’s possible Usyk could fight for a vacant WBO heavyweight title.

“The interesting thing now is that you’re gonna have two mandatories, the IBF and WBO, Kubrat Pulev and Oleksandr Usyk,” Hearn said. “The winner of Joshua-Ruiz is gonna get two letters [to make mandatory defenses], and they’re gonna say, ‘You’re gonna have to choose what you’re gonna do.’ If you’re choosing one of those, I think you’re choosing Pulev, personally.”

The 38-year-old Pulev must defeat Detroit’s Rydell Booker (26-2, 13 KOs) on November 9 in Fresno, California (ESPN), to remain the IBF’s mandatory challenger for the Joshua-Ruiz winner.

“I think Usyk is probably gonna end up fighting for a vacant world title,” Hearn said, “because if [the Joshua-Ruiz winner] don’t fight him, he’ll have to vacate. Again, anything can happen. Joshua won’t want to vacate any belts.”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.