Oleksandr Usyk will probably relinquish extra heavyweight titles within the coming months following his determination to drop the IBF model final 12 months.
Usyk gave the IBF strap to Daniel Dubois as a present when he defeated Anthony Joshua in London, with Usyk specializing in his rematch with Tyson Fury. Now that Fury is out of the way in which, having defeated ‘The Gypsy King’ twice, Usyk is pondering his subsequent transfer.
The Ukrainian had acknowledged his want to maneuver all the way down to cruiserweight. Nevertheless, choices on the decrease restrict are few and much between. One among his targets, Badou Jack, needed to struggle Ryan Rozicki subsequent, whereas Jai Opetaia and Gilberto Ramirez may very well be thought of.
Talking to Sky Sports activities earlier than the Fury struggle in December, Usyk mentioned, “I win once more a second struggle. I’ll strive cruiserweight once more. I’ll strive. I really feel good. It continues, the thirteenth spherical as a result of I really feel like this.”
Jack’s workforce then spoke completely to World Boxing Information to tell us of their curiosity within the Usyk struggle.
“Usyk was one of many potential guys,” mentioned Amer Abdallah, Jack’s consultant. “Usyk isn’t an enormous heavyweight. Badou preventing a man like Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, or Deontay Wilder didn’t make a lot sense, size-wise. However Usyk did make sense.
“So, Usyk has at all times been in that dialog for Badou’s subsequent struggle. As soon as the bridgerweight alternative didn’t come to fruition, and with Usyk seeking to come again all the way down to cruiserweight, I believe that will be an awesome struggle.
“I’d love the chance,” Abdallah added. “It’s a legacy struggle. Who wouldn’t need to share the ring with him?”
Rozicki’s workforce’s profitable the WBC purse bid ends any probability of Jack vs. Usyk for the inexperienced and gold belt. In the meantime, Usyk’s WBC heavyweight title additionally appears to be like precarious.
The WBC not too long ago acknowledged, “Oleksandr Usyk defended his title by UD within the rematch towards Tyson Fury. Agit Kabayel will struggle Zhilei Zhang for the WBC heavyweight interim championship on February 22 in Riyadh.”
Meaning Usyk shall be anticipated to face Kabayel or Zhang after this month. It’s unlikely the WBC will sanction another opponent. The WBO is perhaps extra lenient for some time, as will the WBA, which has a ‘common’ champion in Kubrat Pulev and appears to be in no rush.
Usyk’s WBC strap appears to be in probably the most hazard, and until he begins choosing off mandatories, the Pound for Pound King will quickly be one other belt lighter.
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Learn all articles and unique interviews by Phil Jay. Be taught extra concerning the writer, skilled boxing author, and World Boxing Information Editor since 2010. Comply with on Twitter @PhilJWBN and Quora.
