The WBA, IBF, and WBO Heavyweight Champion of the World wants one thing and one thing alone – the final belt to make him undisputed.
Oleksandr Usyk has made it clear now that a fight with Tyson Fury is all that currently motivates him in the sport of boxing. He’s been undisputed at cruiserweight before, and he wants to do the same amongst the big men – he’s close, too, with both teams seemingly agreed that it will happen in 2023.
Despite that, Usyk still brands his potential opponent as ‘unpredictable’, and has started talking dates and venues in the hope that it will move talks along. He told the PA the ideal time, as reported by Sky Sports.
“Right now my team is seeking conversations with Tyson Fury, and he is really an unpredictable person, so we can’t guarantee when. For me, the idea would be to fight maybe early February or the beginning of March, like March 4, because I am an orthodox Christian. During the great fasting before Easter I do not fight, so it should be all before or then after orthodox Easter [April 16].”
“I want to fight with Fury because I need the fourth belt, and I don’t want to fight with anyone else until I have the fourth belt.”
As for a venue, the Ukrainian would like a homecoming fight. Given all that his country has been through, on the one hand it would be apt. On the other though, it’s unclear when Russia’s invasion will allow for large scale events to take place. Also, there’s the financial aspect, which Usyk is well aware of.
“The organisers are trying to figure out where they can earn more money. For me, yes, I would really like to fight in Ukraine. The country is really capable of hosting this kind of fight. I would be really happy to see it happen in the Olympic Arena in Ukraine. But it is not me who chooses the venue, so I guess it will be Saudi Arabia.”
Finally, Usyk addressed what’s going to happen between now and then. Whilst he’s content to rest and then begin preparations, Fury has itchy feet. ‘The Gypsy King’ will put his WBC belt on the line when facing Derek Chisora on December 3. Usyk, alongside many fans, thinks it’s pointless.
“I don’t know why he needs this fight. Maybe he thinks because it would be one year without a fight, now he needs
it. I think it is some manoeuvre because I don’t know why he needs this.”
Rumours are that the Ukrainian Champion may be in attendance in London in December, so expect to see him enter the ring after the final bell should Fury win as he’s expected to.