Oleksandr Usyk To Return in Mid-May In U.S. As A Heavyweight

[Alpha]

Can't wait, the heavies have been put on notice.

[ykdadamaja]

Well I guess there were no other options.

[Beanz]

Ortiz or Povetkin .

Usyk's Promoter gives either fight a 70% chance of happening -





In 2018, Usyk signed a co-promotional agreement with Eddie Hearn of Matchroom. Hearn represents several top heavyweights - including Dillian Whyte, Jarrell Miller, Dereck Chisora - and IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
The lead promoter for Usyk is Alexander Krasyuk of K2 Ukraine.
“At the present moment, we are negotiating with no one. Usyk and his team are presently having a much needed rest. But I can already tell you that we are experiencing problems finding a suitable opponent”, said Krasyuk stated to the Ukrainian media.
“[Joseph] Parker and [Jarrell] Miller both refused to fight Alexander. Takam has called Dereck Chisora. [Dillian] Whyte will most probably fight [Anthony] Joshua in April. We have only Alexander Povetkin (34-2, 24 KOs) and Luis Ortiz (30-1, 26 KOs) left amongst the top-notch heavyweights. We have a 70% chance that Oleksandr fights one of them in his first bout as a heavyweight.

"If those options fail, we can have a mandatory defense against Denis Lebedev (32-2, 23 KOs) in March. We’re planning to meet with Eddie Hearn at the end of the next week to talk more about our options”.

https://www.boxingscene.com/promoter...ebedev--135235

[powerpuncher]

I still think that Ortiz is the worst option for Usyk. He is the only HW that is technically close to as good as him. I think Povetkin would be a good showcase fight.

[Beanz]

I still think that Ortiz is the worst option for Usyk. He is the only HW that is technically close to as good as him. I think Povetkin would be a good showcase fight.

Either might be a big ask for his first Heavyweight fight but would be top notch entertainment. I think he is way to quick for Oritz at his age and can keep away until he tires just like he did with Bellew. Povetkin is an entirely different proposition and will be trying to take Usyks head off from the first bell. It could be absolutely mental, a barnstormer of a fight.

[Master]

Usyk needs an easier first fight at heavyweight than Ortiz and Povetkin. I am thinking Takem.

[palmerq]

I Thi k usyk would have quite a fun time v old povetkin, povetkin has slowed down quite a bit over the last few years and despite still being pretty good at this stage of their careers I think the only advantage he has over usyk would be his power.... Good fight for usyk he should take it, if he's not capable of beating 40 year old povetkin he might Aswell just mhjke a load of defences at Cruiserweight.