Oleksandr Usyk Looking To Disrupt Joshua vs. Fury Super Fight

All reports seem to indicate that Oleksandr Usyk’s next opponent will be Joe Joyce. With the two heavyweight standouts set to fight for the WBO Interim title. However, Usyk’s promoter, Alexander Krassyuk is lobbying for bigger fish to fry.

Speaking with Sky Sports, Krassyuk had he following to say:

“If AJ vs Fury is not likely to happen this year or is rescheduled until the end of the year, AJ has to make a mandatory defence against Usyk unless he relinquishes the title. The WBO has to gather strength and to make the courageous decision – to order AJ vs Usyk. And that will be the triumph of justice. Otherwise, boxing will accelerate its decline in popularity due to unfair and preconceived politics.”

Krassyuk also spoke on how Usyk is currently unable to progress his career, as talks with Joyce have seemingly stilled. Joyce’s management team have supposedly been unresponsive, leading to stagnation in the WBO. Krassyuk had the following to say on the matter:

“Usyk cannot make any move as there’s no certainty around. Usyk is doing well, safe and sound, fit and working hard. And is ready to face whoever the WBO legally nominates. But my last conversation regarding Joyce took place in the middle of January. I talked to George Warren [part of Joyce’s promotional team]. Since that time, we have hardly moved anywhere.”

However, in direct contradiction to Krassyuk’s statement, Joyce’s manager Adam Moralee has revealed that they are currently in talks with Usyk’s manager to make the fight. Speaking with Sky Sports, Morealee stated that:

“I can confirm that SJAM are in conversation with [Usyk’s manager] Egis Klimas about the Usyk vs Joyce fight. The management teams of the fighters get on well and talks are progressing. Frank Warren is looped in across all matters as Joe’s promoter of record.”

The reasoning for the hold up in negotiations may well be in part because Usyk’s management team believe he deserves a 93% cut of the fight purse. Somewhat unsurprisingly, Joyce’s team do not agree with that summation. Joyce’s manager, Sam Jones had the following to say:

“We understand that Usyk has one fight left with Alexander Krassyuk and so he is trying to push this fight towards a purse bid with [promoter] Eddie Hearn so he can keep himself involved. As for his talk about a 93/7 split, that is clearly ridiculous. We have the utmost respect for the WBO, one of the fairest sanctioning bodies in boxing, and we are sure they will come to a fair and appropriate purse split if the matter does go to purse bids.”

Do you think we will see Usyk vs Joyce in early 2021? WIll Usyk get his wish to fight AJ? Let us know in the comments.