Oleksandr Usyk unified the world heavyweight boxing titles by defeating Tyson Fury last month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “The Gypsy King” was quick to invoke his rematch clause, leading to a second go-round — also in Riyadh — in late December.
If Fury is able to avenge his loss to the Ukrainian “Cat,” that would leave them tied at one apiece, setting up a potential trilogy. Unfortunately, promoters have other plans, which include former unified heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua.
“I think that everything we’re hearing from His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh] is about the potential of ‘AJ’ fighting the winner of Fury-Usyk if [Joshua] wins in September,” promoter Eddie Hearn told talkSPORT. “Let’s be honest, if Fury wins and becomes unified [champion] again, we have to make the ‘AJ’ fight. We just have to.”
The 34 year-old Joshua is the winner of four straight, including his destruction of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou back in March. It’s worth noting that “AJ” was defeated by Usyk in back-to-back fights, first in 2021 and then again in 2022.
Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) is scheduled to return on Sept. 21 at Wembley Stadium against an opponent to be named.