British, Commonwealth and European heavyweight champion Joe Joyce doesn’t mind traveling overseas for a showdown with former undisputed cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk.
The two powerhouses are on a collision to meet each other inside the ring this year with the winner getting the WBO mandatory spot.
But, he also believes Usyk would embrace the possibility of staging their fight in the UK.
The current WBO champion, Anthony Joshua, will probably fight the WBC king Tyson Fury in what could very well be boxing’s biggest fight ever. If such a fight is made, the newly crowned undisputed champion will have to vacate the WBO belt which means someone between Usyk and Joyce will get the chance to become a world champion.
“The WBO now has him as number 1 and me as number 2 so it is the natural progression that we fight each other. Especially if Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are working on fighting each other, probably a couple of times. The WBO is backing it, they want to make the fight and the fans want to see it happen,” Joyce told The Sun.
“I know Usyk has a lot of support in the UK and he has never been afraid of traveling. I remember fighting him in the World Boxing Super Series in East London and it felt like I was in Ukraine. It seems like every Ukrainian based in the UK comes out to support their guy when they compete so, if fans are allowed in by the time we meet, the atmosphere will be great. His fans bring drums, they sing and shout so I am sure he will have no problem fighting here.”
