Oleksandr Usyk will doubtless relinquish extra heavyweight titles within the coming months following his resolution to drop the IBF model final 12 months.
Usyk gave the IBF strap to Daniel Dubois as a present when he defeated Anthony Joshua in London, with Usyk specializing in his rematch with Tyson Fury. Now that Fury is out of the way in which, having defeated ‘The Gypsy King’ twice, Usyk is pondering his subsequent transfer.
The Ukrainian had said his need to maneuver right down to cruiserweight. Nonetheless, choices on the decrease restrict are few and much between. One in every of his targets, Badou Jack, needed to combat Ryan Rozicki subsequent, whereas Jai Opetaia and Gilberto Ramirez may very well be thought-about.
Chatting with Sky Sports activities earlier than the Fury combat in December, Usyk stated, “I win once more a second combat. I’ll attempt cruiserweight once more. I’ll attempt. I really feel good. It continues, the thirteenth spherical as a result of I really feel like this.”
Jack’s staff then spoke solely to World Boxing Information to tell us of their curiosity within the Usyk combat.
“Usyk was one of many potential guys,” stated Amer Abdallah, Jack’s consultant. “Usyk is just not a giant heavyweight. Badou preventing a man like Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, or Deontay Wilder didn’t make a lot sense, size-wise. However Usyk did make sense.
“So, Usyk has at all times been in that dialog for Badou’s subsequent combat. As soon as the bridgerweight alternative didn’t come to fruition, and with Usyk seeking to come again right down to cruiserweight, I feel that might be an excellent combat.
“I’d love the chance,” Abdallah added. “It’s a legacy combat. Who wouldn’t need to share the ring with him?”
Rozicki’s staff’s successful the WBC purse bid ends any likelihood of Jack vs. Usyk for the inexperienced and gold belt. In the meantime, Usyk’s WBC heavyweight title additionally seems to be precarious.
The WBC not too long ago said, “Oleksandr Usyk defended his title by UD within the rematch in opposition to Tyson Fury. Agit Kabayel will combat Zhilei Zhang for the WBC heavyweight interim championship on February 22 in Riyadh.”
Meaning Usyk can be anticipated to face Kabayel or Zhang after this month. It’s unlikely the WBC will sanction every other opponent. The WBO is perhaps extra lenient for some time, as will the WBA, which has a ‘common’ champion in Kubrat Pulev and appears to be in no rush.
Usyk’s WBC strap appears to be in essentially the most hazard, and until he begins selecting off mandatories, the Pound for Pound King will quickly be one other belt lighter.
Join the WBN Publication free of charge and get every day information straight in your e mail. By no means miss a narrative.
Learn all articles and unique interviews by Phil Jay. Study extra concerning the writer, skilled boxing author, and World Boxing Information Editor since 2010. Observe on Twitter @PhilJWBN and Quora.
