The major hurdle Oleksandr Usyk was representing to the unification fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is no longer a problem.
The former undisputed cruiserweight champion is the mandatory WBO challenger to Joshua and he could’ve been the one to disrupt everything.
According to ESPN, the 2012 Olympic champion is will be fighting with the #2 ranked boxer – Britain’s Joe Joyce.
Adam Morallee, who along with Sam Jones manages Joyce as part of S-JAM Boxing, told ESPN the Ukrainian is in talks to face Joyce next for the WBO interim title.
“It looks like a fight for the WBO interim title is what will happen next, and securing a fight with Usyk is our priority,” Morallee told ESPN.
“I think Usyk should be Joe’s next fight and in terms of timing, I think it happens in the second quarter of this year. I understand the WBO has stipulated they have to fight in five to six months.
“Joe’s ambition is to become an undisputed champion and if he beats Usyk, he would then fight Joshua or Fury, and if he doesn’t fight either of them next he would fight for the WBO title.
“The WBO want their titles active and that’s why they want to order Usyk-Joe for the interim title, and it will get upgraded to the full title if Fury or Joshua don’t fight the winner [of Joyce versus Usyk]. Our promoter Frank Warren is liaising with the WBO and Usyk’s people, and it’s a fluid situation. I’m hopeful we can get it done.”
