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Oleksandr Usyk apparently has no plans to ride off into the sunset if he can’t land an undisputed heavyweight title fight with Tyson Fury.
The unified IBF/WBO/IBO/WBA heavyweight champion from Ukraine informed the Ring that he was interested in fighting former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder as it seems increasingly likely that his first choice, Fury, the WBC champion, is worried about a fight with his compatriot Anthony Joshua.
Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) had indicated immediately after his points win over Joshua in their rematch last month in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, that he wanted to face Fury next or he would think hard about retiring.
Not so, it seems.
When asked who he would like to face instead of Fury, Usyk told the Ring, “Wilder.”
“Wilder is a dangerous fighter, and that fight will most likely be in the United States,” Usyk added.
Usyk also said he plans to be ringside for Wilder’s next fight on Oct. 15 against Robert Helenius at the Barclays Center in Brook, New York. The fight marks Wilder’s first fight since his 11th-round knockout loss to Tyson Fury nearly a year ago. Wilder is represented by Al Haymon of Premier Boxing Champions, while Usyk is backed by his former Ukrainian promoter Aleksandr Krassyuk. Usyk’s relationship with Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn ended with Joshua’s last fight.
Usyk, who is currently back in his homeland of Ukraine, also said he harbored no ill feelings towards Fury.
“…I’m not angry at all [that Fury may skip him to fight Joshua]Usyk said. “The biggest problem is that Tyson Fury is not letting the fans see one of the greatest historic fights in boxing history. That’s his fault. It is not mine. So I’m not mad at all. Tyson Fury can fight whoever he wants to fight.”
Usyk, however, feels that it is unsportsmanlike of Fury that he would rather face Joshua, the man Usyk just defeated, rather than compete against him for all the heavyweight belts.
“From a sportsmanship point of view, of course it’s not correct,” Usyk said.
