Usyk Is Being Selfish

Oleksandr Usyk did not get a chance to make his debut at heavyweight due to injury, but has a mandatory world title shot in his backpocket.

Usyk, who elevated from undisputed light heavyweight champion to heavyweight challenger, has the right of a mandatory title fight from the WBO, who currently has Andy Ruiz Jr as their titleholder.

When asked if he’d rather face Ruiz Jr or former world champion Anthony Joshua, the WBO mandatory wasted no time.

“Anthony Joshua at Wembley,” answered Usyk. “I think it would be much harder for me to fight Joshua than Ruiz.

“I was asked the question ‘whom would I like to fight’ and of course I named the three best heavyweights today in the division,” Usyk said of his desire to fight Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Deontay Wilder over the next twelve months.

“If you want to be the best, you have to fight the best and these guys today are the best ones. If I’m going to be fighting just the regular guys, I’m just going to be a regular guy on the line, I want to be on top of it.”

Usyk’s highly anticipated heavyweight debut against Carlos Takam was postponed in the lead up of the May fight night, as Usyk suffered a shoulder injury during training.

“I am also very much waiting for the bout. I am already tired not to fight, just to train and train,” Usyk continued to Sky Sports. “I am ready for the hard work, I’m ready to prepare for the fight and I’m looking forward to my debut as a heavyweight.

“Yesterday we had a meeting with Eddie Hearn and we talked about that, so it looks like it’s going to be in September but most likely in October. We’re talking about the United States.

“We don’t know 100 percent yet but Eddie was saying it would most likely be Takam.”

Report: Sky Sports