Joshua's five realistic options with Usyk fighting in Ukraine
While they still want the rematch to take place, Hearn has now suggested Joshua could fight someone else in the meantime.
Nigeria born British boxer Anthony Joshua manager Eddie Hearn Eddie Hearn has suggested Joshua could take up an interim fight if his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk is delayed due to Ukraine’s war with Russia.
Usyk came to London last September and comprehensively outpointed Joshua to claim the IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles.
A rematch clause was immediately activated and that bout was expected to take place in May or June.
However, following the invasion of his homeland last week, Usyk has returned to Ukraine where he has since joined the territorial defence battalion.
Boxing matters have understandably taken a back seat for the 35-year-old, who told CNN yesterday: ‘My country and my pride are more important to me than a championship belt.’
Joshua and his team will not attempt to force Usyk’s hand amid such troubled times with promoter Eddie Hearn insisting they will give him all the time he needs away from the ring.
While they still want the rematch to take place, Hearn has now suggested Joshua could fight someone else in the meantime.
‘If we have to take an interim bout in May or June, we’re happy to do that,’ Hearn said of a possible solution. ‘After that, we’ll fight Usyk when the situation is resolved.
‘We haven’t heard anything official from his team but it doesn’t seem right to reach out and ask ‘Is our fight ok.’ We respect what he’s going through and are willing to give him all the time he needs.’
With the situation a very unique one, no alternative fights have been suggested as of yet.
Metro.co.uk considers some of the candidates that could emerge should Joshua need another opponent in the coming months.
Joe Joyce
Joe Joyce is the no1 ranked fighter in the WBO rankings, lifting himself into that lofty position following his sixth-round stoppage win over Carlos Takam last July following his statement victory over Daniel Dubois in November 2020.
A summer showdown with Joseph Parker has been discussed for the Putney heavyweights but a meeting between two former Team GB Olympic medallist against Joshua could prove a more exciting option.
Daniel Dubois
Frank Warren’s other heavyweight hopeful Daniel Dubois has racked up two wins since that defeat to Joyce, now working alongside Shane McGuigan as he bids to climb back to the top.
The Londoner is the no1 ranked fighter with the WBA, another belt currently in the possession of Usyk and coveted by Joshua ahead of that proposed rematch.
Dubois is expected to face ‘regular’ WBA champion Trevor Bryan later this year but his promoter Warren floated the idea of a showdown with Joshua in January.
Deontay Wilder
An admittedly very unlikely option – but certainly the most compelling.
Joshua and Wilder appeared on collision course in 2017 while the Briton was in possession of the IBF, WBA and WBO titles with ‘The Bronze Bomber’ the WBC king only for negotiations to fall through on more than one occasion.
Regardless of their recent defeats, it would still represent one of the biggest fights in heavyweight boxing but would serve as a huge risk for both men at this point.
Otto Wallin
Since giving Tyson Fury a decent examination in 2019, Wallin has continued his climb with victories over Travis Kauffman, Dominic Breazeale and Kamil Sokolowski – the latter coming in Cardiff just last month.
The Swede was scheduled to fight Dillian Whyte last October in a title eliminator for Tyson Fury’s WBC title.
Whyte was forced to withdraw due to injury with the governing body later instating the Brixton fighter as mandatory challenger, leaving Wallin in the wilderness.
Since that defeat to Usyk, Joshua has been working with a number of new coaches with an announcement on his new team expected soon.
Fighting Wallin, a southpaw like Usyk, could be an ideal opportunity to put those new skills to the test. Having been deemed low-risk enough by Whyte and his team to risk his WBC title shot last year, he could be deemed a sensible option.
Luis Ortiz
The 42-year-old’s final title charge looked to have been ended following a second defeat to Deontay Wilder in 2019.
But he has shown himself to still be a threat to anyone looking to force themselves into the championship picture after putting down Charles Martin in January.
Like Usyk, the Cuban has that tricky, evasive style that would certainly provide Joshua with an adequate test and remains a solid name for Joshua’s CV.