Parimatch sat down with Oleksandr Usyk after his win against Anthony Joshua last month. During the interview, Usyk discussed a possible fight with Fury and the new interim WBO champion Joe Joyce.
On his Twitter, he invited Joe Joyce to come to Kyiv and fight at the Olympic Stadium. Are you ready to fight Joe Joyce?
Oleksandr Usyk “I can probably do it. But after Fury.
After you beat Joshua you said, “I’ll fight Fury or nobody.” Tyson Fury is now reportedly coming out of retirement, but wants to fight Anthony Joshua instead. Are there other fighters you are ready to fight?
Usyk: “I don’t know anything about what Tyson Fury is doing or thinking.
We are in negotiations talking about a fight and we are doing everything possible to make this fight happen. Of course, I’m really looking forward to having this fight next year. But if Tyson Fury is not interested in a fight next year, then it is not possible to fight him. I’m not interested in fighting any other boxer, so let’s wait.”
Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, said they want to have a fight later this year. Is this date possible for you? You mentioned that it took a long period of training to fight Joshua. Considering a break, how much time do you need to prepare? Is there a particular date or month?
Usyk “No, for this year it is impossible, and there are two reasons.
The first is that I have some old injuries that I need to recover from, so I need a few months for that. The second reason is that I don’t want to fight in December.
I spent half the year in boot camp at the gym, I howled at the moon.
But I want to spend time with my children and I have many things to do here in Ukraine since I came back.
I need to visit the guys of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and support them. I have a lot to do here, so boxing will have to wait a while. Next year I think it will happen.”
How difficult will it be to persuade Tyson Fury to accept a fight?
Usyk: “You are talking about 500 million pounds for the fight. He is a lunatic, but in a good way I mean. I would also want 500 million, but he is crazy.
Fury speaks and already sells the fight. So, he will agree because it would be an awesome fight.
And while we were talking to the organizers of the fight against AJ in Saudi Arabia, the promoters were already interested in staging a fight against Fury in another stadium with a capacity of 80-90 thousand.
Hopefully it will take place here in Ukraine, although at the moment it is just a dream. But dreams can come true.”
If you are not able to fight Fury, will you end your career? Will you retire?
Usyk: “Tyson Fury has said that he is the King of all Kings, and he will beat and kill everyone, he is calling everyone bums. I want to fight him, but I’m not thinking about Fury right now.
I just want to rest I want to enjoy being at home, and just relax and be happy. Also to do something in my garden, to repair the electricity in my house.
Speaking of my future retirement, I am thinking about it and talking to my children. I am looking forward to fighting at the Kyiv Olympic Stadium, a fight there could be the point where I am ready to end my career.
Is a trilogy fight possible with AJ?
Usyk: “If Fury doesn’t agree, I think we could try to have another fight. We already had a game in London and also in Saudi Arabia, so the next one could be at the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv.”
You can read the full interview with Parimatch here
