Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I’M WAITING FOR YOU,AJ
Stylish Usyk after Joshua fight.. and Brit champ is right up for it
ANTHONY JOSHUA is up for a clash with Oleksandr Usyk if he fails to land a mega-money bout with Tyson Fury.
And, on the evidence of Usyk’s clinical display against Derek Chisora, it would be an intriguing battle.
WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Joshua was ringside at Wembley Arena to get a look at former cruiserweight king Usyk in his second fight in the sport’s glamour division. And AJ is up for facing his WBO mandatory should he beat Kubrat Pulev ulev next month.
“AJ wants to fight
Usyk,” said aid promoter Eddie die
Hearn, who o works with h both fighters.
“Mo n e y is s important to them but Usyk wants nts a heavyweight world title. If we can’t t make the Fury fight and AJ beats Pulev, he is fighting
Usyk, one million illion per cent.”
Joshua will have seen things that will l give him the confidence to believe he could be the first man to beat the Ukrainian as a professional.
The fact a 36-year-old Chisora was able to impose himself on Usyk in the opening four rounds was one of them.
But Usyk showed that, even giving away almost three stone, he should not be ruled out of conquering the land of the giants.
“I am mandatory for
Joshua so he has two options,” said Usyk. “One, to fight me. Two, to vacate and fight Fury. Either he fights me or he relinquishes relinquishes. I am waiting. I
am r ready.” He was a
Bcomfortable winner at Wembley – Chisora’s team felt otherwise – and the 117-112 scorecard was a more accurate reflection of the fight than the two 115-113 cards. Usyk’s control of the contest w when he found his r rhythm was very i impressive while his f feints, footwork and c counter-punching w were superb.
Those skills will give any heavyweight trouble and, although Usyk took some big shots, he was never hurt by the much bigger Chisora.
This was the night the weird and wonderful Ukrainian (above)
EDDIE HEARN is ready to move Anthony Joshua’s clash cl with Kubrat
Pulev Pu abroad now that the th UK is heading back into lockdown. Matchroom Ma chief Hearn was holding out hope of getting getti at least a small number num of supporters into London’s Londo O2. But while elite sport can continue behind closed doors in lockdown, there’s no chance of a socially-distanced crowd for the WBA, IBF and WBO clash between the Brit (left) and the Bulgarian.
The most likely switch is from the O2 to Wembley Arena for the December 12 world title clash. But Hearn said: “We could take it somewhere internationally.” showed he can rough it with the big bruisers in his 18th pro fight.
The only thing which is not on his side is time.
Usyk’s chances of beating the likes of Joshua and Fury are down to speed and timing.
But, at 33, and after a long amateur career, the London 2012 Olympic gold medallist may find those qualities start to wane soon.
If Joshua and Fury fight twice next year, as hoped, then Usyk could be 35 by the time he gets his chance. He may get his world title opportunity against another opponent if Joshua is forced to give up the WBO belt. Frank Warren has put forward the winner of Daniel Dubois against Joe Joyce for Usyk in that case.
“We will do whatever is ordered,” added Hearn.
“Joseph Parker is No.3 and is fighting Junior Fa, who is No.5, so the winner will push for that No.2 slot.
“I still think Usyk is a huge favourite against Dubois, but Dubois does have great size.”
Whatever the next step is, it will be a fun ride with Usyk, who has fought – and won – in six different countries in his last nine fights.