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“Either fight me or give up” – Oleksandr Usyk sends a clear message to Anthony Joshua that he does not want to wait for the planned undisputed fight with Tyson Fury before he receives his WBO title shot; Usyk is Joshua’s mandatory challenger
By James Dielhenn and Michael Bridge
Last Updated: 11/01/20 1:35 pm
0:49
Oleksandr Usyk says Anthony Joshua must now fight him
Oleksandr Usyk has given his severest warning yet that he will not wait for Anthony Joshua to fight Tyson Fury before demanding his own shot.
Usyk reinforced his status as a mandatory challenger to Joshua’s WBO heavyweight title by outscoring Derek Chisora on Saturday night and intends to fight for the belt in 2021.
But IBF, WBA and WBO champion Joshua must overcome his next defense against Kubrat Pulev on December 12. Sky Sports ticket office, then plans two fights against WBC champion Fury next year.
0:30 Best of action from Oleksandr Usyk’s unanimous decision win on points over Derek Chisora in their heavyweight fight
3:23 ‘Three out of 10!’ Oleksandr Usyk rates his own performance
The victorious Usyk said Sky Sports News the morning after beating Chisora: “I’m the mandatory for Joshua, so he has two options.
“One; fight me.
“Two; vacate and go fight Fury.
“Either he fights me or he gives up.
“I’m waiting. I’m ready.”
Usyk is Joshua’s mandatory challenger
When asked if he felt ready to become the third fighter to add a heavyweight title to the cruiserweight belts he accumulated, Usyk said, “That’s true.”
Immediately after beating Chisora, he explained his goal: “Not just world champion, the undisputed world champion [is my aim]. “
Before the fight with Chisora, Usyk co-promoter Alex Krassyuk, who works alongside Eddie Hearn, said Sky sports: “Usyk is already in AJ’s head.
“Their fight will happen anyway, this is only a matter of time.
“AJ knows this guy is a real threat to him.”
2:42 Carl Froch says he wouldn’t be sure about pitting Oleksandr Usyk against a great heavyweight like Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury.
1:02 Tony Bellew says there wouldn’t have been too many complaints if Derek Chisora had made the decision against Oleksandr Usyk.
AJ vs Fury is the priority
Eddie Hearn said Sky sports before Usyk beat Chisora: “If Joshua beat Pulev, he wants to fight Fury and I don’t see any fight getting in the way.
“If Usyk wins, and Joshua beats Pulev, the ruling states that Joshua should fight Usyk next.
“But if Joshua wins, he’s going to run for the WBO and say, ‘I’d like to fight Fury for the undisputed title.”
“The WBO can say yes or no. If they say no, we go to Usyk and ask him: ‘Will you let us [fight Fury] maybe in April. ‘
“I really want AJ vs. Fury to be for the undisputed title. Belts are important to Joshua. He hasn’t accumulated these belts and he hasn’t paid the penalty fees just to throw them away. He wants to be undisputed.
“But we also respect Usyk as a mandatory challenger.
“AJ would like to fight Usyk too. He thinks it’s an incredible challenge. He thinks Usyk is a great fighter.”
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