Usyk Plans For Spring Return For WBO Title

The odds of Oleksandr Usyk waiting for a world heavyweight championship shot may have gone down, as he prepares for his return to the ring.

“[Usyk’s next fight] should happen either in March or in April,” Alex Krassyuk, general director of K2 Promotions-Ukraine confirmed to Boxing Scene.

Usyk is the mandatory challenger to the WBO crown currently held by Anthony Joshua, but Joshua seems to be near a deal to fight IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev, both of whom have their governing body setting deadlines for Joshua to defend against their challengers or vacate.

Following a win over Chazz Witherspoon in October, the WBO mandated that Usyk must battle for their world heavyweight title by no later than June 4th, while Pulev must get his title shot by no later than May 31st.

“If Usyk’s next fight is not Joshua most likely it would mean that he relinquished his WBO title to avoid facing Usyk,” insists Krassyuk.

“And of course, Usyk would prefer to challenge the vacant WBO Heavyweight title versus the highest available opponent designated by the sanctioning body.”