Oleksandr Usyk will seemingly 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 best way, having defeated ‘The Gypsy King’ twice, Usyk is pondering his subsequent transfer.
The Ukrainian had said his want to maneuver right down to cruiserweight. Nevertheless, choices on the decrease restrict are few and much between. Considered one of his targets, Badou Jack, needed to combat Ryan Rozicki subsequent, whereas Jai Opetaia and Gilberto Ramirez could possibly be thought-about.
Talking to Sky Sports activities earlier than the Fury combat in December, Usyk stated, “I win once more a second combat. I’ll attempt cruiserweight once more. I’ll attempt. I really feel good. It continues, the thirteenth spherical as a result of I really feel like this.”
Jack’s staff then spoke completely to World Boxing Information to tell us of their curiosity within the Usyk combat.
“Usyk was one of many potential guys,” stated Amer Abdallah, Jack’s consultant. “Usyk is just not 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 all the time been in that dialog for Badou’s subsequent combat. As soon as the bridgerweight alternative didn’t come to fruition, and with Usyk trying to come again right down to cruiserweight, I feel that will be an ideal combat.
“I’d love the chance,” Abdallah added. “It’s a legacy combat. Who wouldn’t need to share the ring with him?”
Rozicki’s staff’s profitable the WBC purse bid ends any likelihood of Jack vs. Usyk for the inexperienced and gold belt. In the meantime, Usyk’s WBC heavyweight title additionally seems precarious.
The WBC not too long ago said, “Oleksandr Usyk defended his title by UD within the rematch towards Tyson Fury. Agit Kabayel will combat Zhilei Zhang for the WBC heavyweight interim championship on February 22 in Riyadh.”
Which means Usyk shall be anticipated to face Kabayel or Zhang after this month. It’s unlikely the WBC will sanction every other 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 essentially the most hazard, and except he begins selecting 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.
