Nigerian-born world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Olaseni Oluafemi Johsaua is set to receive a confirmation of his next tile fight with Bulgaria’s Oleksandr Usyk, as the mandatory challenger’s camp have step up their efforts to book a schedule for the bout.
Megasportsarena.com gathered that, while Joshua would have preferred a blockbuster unification fight with fellow-Brit, Tyson Fury, the London 2012 Olympics gold medalist will now have to settle for a date with the ambitious Usyk.
World Boxing Organisation (WBO) ordered Joshua to defend his belt against the mandatory challenger after the breakdown of his planned undisputed title fight with Fury, and Usyk’s team have now declared that they do not see any visible obstacles to a deal in the next few days.
The three-belt champ and Usyk were given until May 31 to negotiate terms before the fight will be decided via purse bids, but Joshua is also considering other opponents, according to his promoter, Eddie Hearn.
Joshua holds the IBF, WBA and WBO titles but his desired opponent Fury was told to defend his WBC belt against Deontay Wilder by a court of arbitration.
Usyk’s promoter, Alexander Krassyuk told Sky Sports: “We are in the middle of negotiations now and things look optimistic.
“As long as I am informed there are no visible obstacles to the deal not to take place, hopefully, it will be completed within the rendered timing.”
Hearn also told Behind The Gloves: “It is the fight that is most likely for us. We are talking to other people, as well, about other fights.
“The aim is to be undisputed. All AJ has done is to box off mandatory fights to keep the belt. How much longer does he have to do that?
“You never get the freedom to do what you want. In an ideal world we’d like to do what Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has done – have three fights in six months.
“But it’s about defending the belts. He wants to become undisputed. He doesn’t want to lose the belts but his hands are always tied.”
