Oleksandr Usyk WILL fight Tyson Fury if Anthony Joshua steps aside, confirms Ukrainian’s promoter… as he claims AJ will allow it ‘with the right money out of respect for the division’
- Oleksandr Usyk beat Anthony Joshua in September, with rematch set for 2022
- Ukrainian’s promoter says AJ could step aside ‘out of respect for the division’
- This would allow Usyk to take on Tyson Fury to crown the undisputed champion
- Chinese heavyweight contender Zhilei Zhang is an option for Joshua next
Oleksandr Usyk is open to fighting Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world if Anthony Joshua steps aside.
AJ suffered a defeat at the hands of the Ukrainian earlier this year but has a rematch clause and is preparing to meet him again in 2022.
As it stands, Fury has the WBC belt while Usyk is in possession of the IBF, WBA and WBO titles, meaning the winner would take them all.
Anthony Joshua has triggered his rematch clause with Oleksandr Usyk (right) but is said to be willing to let the Ukrainian take on Tyson Fury for the undisputed championship
Tyson Fury is keen to return to the ring in February or March after beating Deontay Wilder
And even though Eddie Hearn has said Joshua is preparing for the rematch, Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk has heard that the Brit could step aside if the money is right out of respect for the division.
‘The talks on AJ’s step aside have been around since Fury KO’d Wilder,’ he told Sky Sports.
‘I heard that Joshua could consider stepping aside if the money is right as he feels respect to the division and is willing to let the undisputed heavyweight championship happen.
‘Usyk says that he can fight Fury next if the offer is right and if AJ allows to do so.’
Fury would also be eager for that to happen, with his promoter Bob Arum previously admitting: ‘If Joshua decides not to exercise his rematch against Usyk and decides to step aside, the fight we would like to make is between Usyk and Fury.
‘Then Joshua can fight the winner of the undisputed fight. That’s what Tyson would like. And I represent Tyson. That is his preference.’
One option for AJ if he does step aside, would be to take on undefeated Chinese star Zhilei Zhang.
Zhang lost against AJ at the 2012 Olympics so there is a compelling storyline to sell the fight and his adviser Terry Lane said: ‘We heard some chatter regarding AJ [needing a new opponent] which we are open to.
Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk (left) says his man wants the Fury fight if it can happen
‘There are rumours that, if he does, then perhaps a fight in China against Zhang would be of interest. We have not discussed this with [Joshua’s promoters] Matchroom.’
Given the fact that Usyk handily beat Joshua, who was on the ropes and saved by the bell at the very end of their contest, most fans would prefer to see the ‘Cat’ fight Fury next.
But in the painfully convoluted world of boxing negotiations it remains to be seen if the money will be right for AJ to walk away from a rematch he so desperately wants.
Zhilei Zhang is undefeated and he could take on Anthony Joshua next if AJ wants the fight