Oleksandr Usyk, the world’s new undisputed heavyweight champion, was always confident in beating boxing’s top heavyweights.
Oleksandr Usyk made his name in boxing by defeating Tyson Fury against the odds earlier this month.
However, the undisputed heavyweight has always been clear about his desire to dominate the division, stating unequivocally that he would prefer to face Anthony Joshua over Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019 – purely because you must beat the best to be the best.
At the time, Usyk was the mandatory challenger to face either the Brit or the Mexican, who were fighting for the unified heavyweight championship in a rematch in Saudi Arabia.
In the proceeding fight, Joshua, who was considered to be one of the most dangerous heavyweights in the world, was stopped by the unfancied Ruiz in an extraordinary bout in Madison Square Garden in the summer of 2019.
Joshua would avenge his loss to the Mexican by beating him via a unanimous decision in the rematch in Saudi Arabia. But before the Brit made up for his first career defeat, Usyk was asked to choose who he wanted to take on out of Joshua and Ruiz.
Despite being smaller in weight, height and reach, the Ukrainian said he wanted to take on the Brit, as he saw him as a bigger challenge. After AJ’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, recently said the fighter may have a trilogy with Usyk, another look back on the Ukrainian’s original comments suggests the undisputed champion would jump at the chance to take on Joshua again.
In a 2019 interview with Sky Sports, Usyk was asked if he wanted to fight Joshua or Ruiz. The London 2012 Olympic gold medallist replied: “Anthony Joshua at Wembley. I think it would be much harder for me to fight Joshua.”
When he was reminded about his prior comments about wanting to fight Joshua, Fury and Deontay Wilder, the Ukrainian replied: “I was asked the question, ‘Who would I like to fight?’ Of course, I named the three best heavyweights today in the division.
“If you want to be the best, you have to fight the best. These guys today are the best ones and I wanted to fight the best one. If I am going to be fighting the regular guys, I’m going to be with the regular guys in the line, I want to be on top of it.”
Usyk said he wanted to fight Joshua over Ruiz.
Since his loss to Joshua, Ruiz has beaten Chris Arreola and Luis Ortiz by unanimous decision. He faces Jarrell Miller in Los Angeles on August 3rd. The Mexican has previously said he would “love” to take on the Ukrainian at some point.
However, Usyk, who became undisputed heavyweight champion by overcoming Tyson Fury via a split decision on May 18, looks set to face the Gypsy King again in Saudi Arabia in October. Unfortunately for the Ukrainian, the rematch will likely be for the unified heavyweight championship rather than undisputed, as Usyk looks set to be stripped of the vacant IBF championship.
Filip Hrgovic has been the mandatory IBF challenger for almost two years and the Croatian’s upcoming bout against Daniel Dubois may be for the IBF title. Usyk’s team have requested an exception so he can maintain his undisputed status ahead of his rematch with Fury.
Usyk beat Anthony Joshua twice.
Meanwhile, Hearn said Joshua would be willing to fight Fury or take on Usyk in a trilogy bout this year, if their rematch is not able to be made. Usyk and Fury are still understood to be set for a rematch this October, but the Matchroom chief said he feels the timings may be too brief for either fighter.
He told Matchroom’s YouTube channel: “I don’t think Tyson Fury is gonna be over the moon with five or six weeks off, but that’s the obligation, there’s a lot of money. Who knows? If Usyk’s injured, can’t make the date, do you make Fury against Joshua – with the winner fighting Usyk? I mean the answer for me is, ‘Yes, please.’
“But it’s down to His Excellency [Turki Al-Sheikh] and the fighters to make the decisions. They have a contracted rematch, but they have to be physically able to make that date, and I guess that’s the next obstacle to overcome.”
