Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury? Oleksandr Usyk wants them both

[Master]

Oleksandr Usyk is keen to take on Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury to end British dominance of the heavyweight division.

Fury completed a stunning seven-round demolition of knockout specialist Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas last month to collect the WBC title, while countryman Joshua holds the other three major heavyweight belts after avenging his defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr. with a comprehensive points win last December.

Usyk, who, like Fury, is undefeated and has a London 2012 gold medal in common with Joshua, cleaned out the cruiserweight division and has similar designs after stepping up to take on boxing's big men.

"I work hard on it," the 33-year-old Ukrainian told Sky Sports of his desire to hold all the heavyweight titles, with a scheduled May 23 bout against Dereck Chisora next on the agenda.

That fight, along with Joshua's IBF mandatory defense against Kubrat Pulev at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20, could yet fall victim to coronavirus cancellations.

Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, this week said the Pulev bout being shelved could lead to an immediate showdown with Fury.



Usyk, who is next in line with the WBO to challenge Joshua, is not overly concerned with such machinations.

"I want to fight both," the southpaw replied when asked if he had a preference between the two reigning champions. The last thing I think about is who will fight who. No predictions."

Usyk's step up has been checked by nagging injury. A biceps problem delayed his heavyweight debut — a seventh-round stoppage of American journeyman Chazz Witherspoon that remains his only outing since knocking out Tony Bellew on a final cruiserweight assignment in November 2018.

"I need to stay active. I need to box," he added. "If your vocation is passive, it's not good. If you stay active, it's very good. This is my active vocation."

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/ant...212015036.html

[Ron Swanson]

Dude should really fight a good heavyweight before going to the top, and no, Chisora doesn’t count as that.

[TitoFan]

Dude should really fight a good heavyweight before going to the top, and no, Chisora doesn’t count as that.

True. But nowadays it's just about the instant leap. Even loudmouth Haye tested the waters first before his ill-fated meeting with Klitschko.

[Hulk]

Usyk at heavyweight is intriguing. I think Chisora’s pressure and punch will be a damn good test for him. Usyk’s debut at heavyweight was pretty lackluster, I thought.

[Alpha]

Dude should really fight a good heavyweight before going to the top, and no, Chisora doesn’t count as that.

I have been one of Usyk's biggest advocates on this site. I think he can defeat both, with Fury being the more difficult task. Chisora will be a good keep busy fight, and to see where Usyk is injury wise.

[Master]

Dude should really fight a good heavyweight before going to the top, and no, Chisora doesn’t count as that.

I have been one of Usyk's biggest advocates on this site. I think he can defeat both, with Fury being the more difficult task. Chisora will be a good keep busy fight, and to see where Usyk is injury wise.

I know you have always rated Usyk and thought he would do well at heavyweight but I see no way he could beat AJ and Fury. They are just too big for him.

Time will tell but he is rated too highly by WBO which is politics from Eddie. The injury and stagnation with the average performance in his last fight makes me think I will be right.

[Alpha]

Dude should really fight a good heavyweight before going to the top, and no, Chisora doesn’t count as that.

I have been one of Usyk's biggest advocates on this site. I think he can defeat both, with Fury being the more difficult task. Chisora will be a good keep busy fight, and to see where Usyk is injury wise.

I know you have always rated Usyk and thought he would do well at heavyweight but I see no way he could beat AJ and Fury. They are just too big for him.

Time will tell but he is rated too highly by WBO which is politics from Eddie. The injury and stagnation with the average performance in his last fight makes me think I will be right.

You should check out his World Series of Boxing fights, Fa, Joyce and Modugno are compatible to Joshua in size, also watch how he deals with Nistor. Usyk tends to increase his output as the fight progresses, turning up the gears through the rounds. I'm not sure Joshua and Fury can deal with that over 12 rounds. Usyk was the Super Champ at Cruiser for that belt, so they become mandatory when stepping up a division. This is nothing new and has happened many times previously when requested. The injuries are worrying to me, as is age, but we will have to wait and see what happens.

[Mark TKO]

he's not big enough

[Master]

Dude should really fight a good heavyweight before going to the top, and no, Chisora doesn’t count as that.

I have been one of Usyk's biggest advocates on this site. I think he can defeat both, with Fury being the more difficult task. Chisora will be a good keep busy fight, and to see where Usyk is injury wise.

I know you have always rated Usyk and thought he would do well at heavyweight but I see no way he could beat AJ and Fury. They are just too big for him.

Time will tell but he is rated too highly by WBO which is politics from Eddie. The injury and stagnation with the average performance in his last fight makes me think I will be right.

You should check out his World Series of Boxing fights, Fa, Joyce and Modugno are compatible to Joshua in size, also watch how he deals with Nistor. Usyk tends to increase his output as the fight progresses, turning up the gears through the rounds. I'm not sure Joshua and Fury can deal with that over 12 rounds. Usyk was the Super Champ at Cruiser for that belt, so they become mandatory when stepping up a division. This is nothing new and has happened many times previously when requested. The injuries are worrying to me, as is age, but we will have to wait and see what happens.

I will check that boxing series out now that you mention it and see how he handled Joyce who I rate higher.

[Memphis]

I think the Del Boy fight is a good one. People don't want to say it but Del Boy is up there hovering around the fringe of top 15-20 heavies. His form over the last couple of years is decent. The loss against Whyte obviously but Whyte is firmly top 5 with everyone and Del gave him all the trouble he could handle over the course of two fights, might have got the nod in the first. Before that the good win against Takam, the clobbering of Szpilka and Price. It's a decent run.

Where Chisora struggles is when they move. Anything side to side and he's fucked. Kabayel employed minimal lateral movement and Chisora spent the whole night wandering around after him. it was one of those weird nights in Monte Carlo where there isn't much noise, Chisora didn't have his full team with him. Maybe if it was a packed O2 full of venom he might have got after Kabayel a bit more but who knows.

Usyk wont be standing still for Chisora to whack away at him like Price or Szpilka did. He'll be Kabayel X2 and Chisora will struggle to get a glove on him. Even when (because he's definitely mad) Usyk decides he wants to stand and fight, he can do it. Showed it against Joyce in the WBS. He made that weird fuck you kind of face and stood and fought with Joyce as and when it suited him and came off the better pretty much every time.

Joshua and Fury will be a different kettle of fish. Fury more so because he will fully utilise his height and reach. He'll box Usyk. Joshua will fight him more and give more opportunities to Usyk. I don't buy into this basic idea that Usyk is too small for those two for the same reason Alpha gave. He's already proven it isn't the case and can compete with and beat bigger men.

[Master]

Oleksandr Usyk ready to enforce WBO mandatory and fight Anthony Joshua

Oleksandr Usyk has pledged to enforce his WBO mandatory and challenge Anthony Joshua for the heavyweight title, potentially scuppering hopes of an all-British undisputed fight.

Joshua, who is due to face his IBF mandatory Kubrat Pulev later this year, has reportedly agreed terms with Fury to fight for all four heavyweight belts next year.

However, if Usyk’s mandatory is called by the WBO, Joshua will have no option but to either face the undefeated Ukrainian or vacate his belt.

“Usyk has been the WBO mandatory challenger for more than one year,” his co-promoter Alexander Krassyuk told Sky Sports. “He has agreed to let AJ versus Pulev happen, with regards that the winner fights him next. This statement is still solid.

“Our plan is A) beat Dereck Chisora B) push AJ to comply with WBO rules or vacate the title C) defeat AJ (or any other WBO champion or contender and become the heavyweight champion. Simple and practical.”

Usyk, a 2012 Olympic gold medallist, who was crowned undisputed champion at cruiserweight before moving up a division, is scheduled to face Britain’s Dereck Chisora later this year.

“According to our latest talks with Eddie, Usyk vs Chisora has to go at the end of October,” Krassyuk said. “Still much depends on `Covid-19 restrictions but we all want to make it happen.”

Speaking in the past about a possible fight against Usyk, Joshua said: “A very credible opponent. When I’m trying to build my record, I want opponents like Usyk to say that I’ve defeated them.

“He uses his feet very well, and positions his hands well. You can’t hit him because his feet move so well. If you do manage to catch him, [the punches] are brushing off the gloves.

“What I’d do, as I have done already, is study him – from his footwork, his hand positioning, to his openings. Then I’d go to former people who have faced him and find out information on how to defeat him.”

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/ole...084900002.html

[palmerq]

Usyk v Joshua would be top class, I'd pick usyk to win but Joshua is just so powerful and no mug but usyk can really move in and out so well and isn't that small a guy(obviously smaller)

Usyj needs to get his career going again, hopefully the injuries that have held him up the last couple of years havent been damaging, the git isn't getting younger either, I hope he enforces the mandatory and Joshua takes on fury anyway then Joshua v usyk for all the belts.

[SlimTrae]

What a shame when a #1 has to enforce a fight.

[Memphis]

Why is it a shame? The fight is Fury V Joshua, that's what we all want right? Usyk is entitled to what's his and he'll do the business that best suits him I'm sure. But it would be no shame if Usyk had to wait whilst Fury Joshua fought. From a fans point of view I wouldn't care if Usyk got royally shafted out of his fight so long as Fury and Joshua fight as a result.

Citing time, really? Like Joshua has been off fighting Tom Dick and Harry all the while ignoring Usyk? Nothing has changed in the timeline of a Joshua Usyk fight other than losing a whole bunch of time to covid. That's the same across the board. Yes in terms of calendar days and months he's been waiting X amount of time. But so has everyone, for everything.

[SlimTrae]

Why is it a shame? The fight is Fury V Joshua, that's what we all want right? Usyk is entitled to what's his and he'll do the business that best suits him I'm sure. But it would be no shame if Usyk had to wait whilst Fury Joshua fought. From a fans point of view I wouldn't care if Usyk got royally shafted out of his fight so long as Fury and Joshua fight as a result.

Citing time, really? Like Joshua has been off fighting Tom Dick and Harry all the while ignoring Usyk? Nothing has changed in the timeline of a Joshua Usyk fight other than losing a whole bunch of time to covid. That's the same across the board. Yes in terms of calendar days and months he's been waiting X amount of time. But so has everyone, for everything.

In theory I agree, because Fury vs Joshua is a good fight. But a #1 contender is rarely as good as Usyk, was my point, nothing more. Usually it is someone we question at #1.

I didn't mean to insinuate I have a problem with AJ fighting Fury rather the usual- a decade waiting for unification.

You are right covid has caused time, but previous to that- we witnessed this board & others side on who was stiffing who; Wilder or Joshua- or their promoters. Then in comes Ruiz who fucked up the plans! Then Fury who ended Wilder's plans- and he stands to hold up or force Tyson to give it up via mandatory rubber match. & if that occurs, we may end up seeing a great fight between Fury & AJ---yet without unification.