Anthony Joshua, who is currently the title holder of the IBF, IBO, and WBA, was expecting to face Tyson Fury before it was confirmed that Fury must face Wilder for the third time before taking on any other fight. With that fight off the table, the opportunity for Joshua to face Alexander Usyk is now in the works.
There was a May 31st deadline for Joshua and Usyk to strike a deal but the WBO has granted an extension for further negotiations in order for both sides to come to an agreement. Although the conditions of the fight are not finalized yet, it seems likely that it will happen.
Usyk’s manager Alexander Krassyuk said in an interview that they have until Friday to finalize a deal, “So we are in touch with Eddie, we are working hard on the details and hopefully we will end up with a deal by Friday.”
Last month heavyweight contender Michael Hunter spoke about the matchup and predicted that Usyk will come out on top. “He is a defensive fighter, a pure boxer. It seems to me that Usyk will defeat Joshua on points.” Alexander Usyk is one of the most skilled fighters in the heavyweight division and despite his size shows great speed, footwork, and athleticism. However, he often displays a slow start which can open him up to vulnerabilities early on against a big and strong Joshua. It’s also likely that Joshua will utilize his reach and size advantages to dismantle Usyk by staying behind the jab and keeping him at bay. But if Usyk can manage to avoid Joshua’s power and land enough shots, he may have more than a fighting chance at being successful.
