The WBO Championship Committee has given the teams of WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk 10 days to negotiate and reach an agreement, otherwise an immediate purse bid will be called. Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn requested an extension until Monday to discuss the subject and other related affairs with Joshua, but that request was denied.
If no deal is reached and a purse bid is called, the split can be no greater than 80/20 in favor of Joshua. The minimum acceptable bid is one million dollars. Either camp may request a purse bid procedure at any time during the negotiation process.
Dangerous fight for Joshua to take I think he would not only loses but get TKO in the process
I agree….don’t sleep on Usyk.
Joshua isn’t losing. We won’t even remember Usyk’s name after this fight.
I disagree on the ko. But I do think Usyk probably wins. He just needs to work in and out and it should actually be relatively easy as long as he watches that big right. Joshua simply isn’t fast enough for him. But Joshua has proven that right only needs to land once.
What makes you think that Usyk is good enough to beat Joshua? A cruiser weight with only 13 knockouts from his 18 wins, he didn’t even stop Chisora who is a few steps below Joshua who has a good percentage of knockouts against heavy weights.
It’s dangerous. Very dangerous! But I think in the grand scheme of things Joshua will come out on top.
I hope so, but Joshua is much bigger.
He can watch Wlads fights vs Byrd and try to impose the same style on Usyk for an easy unan decision. It would have been better for Usyk if this fight didnt happen and he got someone like Wilder instead.
Wilder would be very easy for Usyk I think. Remember that even Szpilka was beating upon Wilder until he got caught. Joshua I don’t know.
Like him or not, Wilder’s right hand is dangerous at all times. Boxing has that gift to offer those punchers a chance to turn a fight on a dime with some serious horsepower. Wilder hits much harder than cruiserweights Usyk has fought in the past. Usyk can box all night long to beat anybody, but boy, that power can be unleashed by some of the top dogs in the heavyweight division to change it up pretty quickly.
Usyk will win a Dec. He’s got a great chin and is like Loma of the heavyweight division. He’s too mobile and tactical with too many angles. He will pick Joshua apart.
And how did Loma get on last time out?
He was basically invisible the first half of the fight with López hitting nothing but air then turned it on the second half and was robbed on the cards.
Loma lost/gave away too many early rounds, then ran out of time. He lost this fight, fair and square. Don’t blame it on the judges.
– Gary G
Robbed really? Lomo is done. He gambled fighting Lopex instead of his mandatory (Haney) and lost. Had his hyped up #1 p4p rating, when he never was. Got his privileged WBC franchise excuse, and didnt have the stomach to remain at the top. Now your saying an Olympian gold medalist forgot to throw punches in the early rounds? He was getting backed up with punches is what happened. Him and GGG ripened sitting on the vine.
What the hell were you watching? Lomo ran for dear life the first 6 rounds and when he decided to fight, Teofimo returned fire and was close to knocking Lomo ass out.
Either way I’m pretty stoked about this fight.
The only way Usyk wins is if he has his running shoes on or somehow tags Joshua.
Both of those things r what Usyk does best.
Hearn and Joshua must be relieved to rather face Usyk than Fury. Can’t help thinking either this was the plan all along.
I disagree. They were signed to fight fury and help him duck the trilogy with wilder
Can’t see how. Hearn did all the work and chasing about to try and make the fight and succeeded only for it to be curtailed for something on Fury’s side.
So funny how you can interpret what happened like that. Literally just see what you want to see
Maybe the plan but the Joshua Fury fight would generate so much money that either fighter and their connections could deal with a loss. Too many fights promoters/managers won’t accept any risk without a guaranteed huge reward.
This is good news! I’m not sure who wins this
I like Usyk and will be rooting for him for sure. But he is just too small for guys like Joshua, Tyson and even Wilder, plus he has no real punch. Late stoppage for AJ. Unfortunatly
James, I like your assessment. Usyk is on a bigger playground with these heavyweights as compared to the cruiserweights. Usyk is an accumulative puncher, not a one-punch KO artist. Usyk’s chin will be tested when he faces the top dogs in this weight class.
GO Usyk.
I am making a prediction.
Wilder scores a 7th round shocking knockout of Tyson Fury. Usyk knocks out AJ in the 4th. Both Fury & AJ win the rematches. And these 4 guys become the Hagler – Hearns – Leonard – Duran of the 2020s. The New 4 Kings.
I admire your predictions you have set forth. I am not sure Usyk has the “crack” to stop AJ. Usyk will have to wear down AJ with a busy work rate. AJ, on the other hand, is not a cruiserweight Usyk is used to. AJ does have some steam in his right hand. Will be a good match-up between AJ and Usyk.
It’s about time the pound-for-pound number one guy over 200 lb gets his deserved shot at a world heavyweight title. The taller Joshua is going to have a hard time putting clean shots together on the uber skilled Ukrainian.
Not sure Usyk has the one-punch KO power to stop Joshua. However, his stellar work rate would help to rack points up against AJ. Usyk I think realizes that these heavyweights are not the cruiserweights he once fought. These heavyweights can walk through some of his punches and it’s much harder to slow down a bigger man with a decent chin. I am not sure Usyk can conquer the heavyweight division as he did in the cruiserweights.
I see some people here saying Usyk is gonna beat Joshua? I think AJ will beat Usyk, but what if Usyk does win and Fury wins also. Would all of you think Usyk would beat Tyson Fury?
I think Fury beats Usyk. Fury is too tall, have a good jab, moves fine in the ring, knows how to use his weight and the better competition the more mentally prepared and motivated.
No HW today can afford to understimate Usyk no matter how big the size difference is.
Usyk? The guy that was unimpressive and barely beat Chisora is going to beat Joshua? Not likely. Usyk future Bridgerweight terror
sure, why not?? Usyk is very good
Joshua doesn’t stink either. AJ’s biggest weakness is his chin and it’s not like Usyk is the guy to crack it. Also moving up against a 6’6 250 lb guy that will box and use distance will make it almost impossible for a Cruiser moving up
Remind me again how many heavyweight fights has Usyk fought to deserve this shot at a title?
Pointless fight, only the hard core have any interest – an Eastern European cruiserweight who barley scraped past a journey man in his last fight and first real fight at the weight. Yes he’s a great boxer at the lower weights – no one has heard of him – the WBO belt in the heavy div was carried for years by Herbie Hide. The belt has no credibility- the fight has no credibility- the PPV won’t attract flys – what’s the point… fury and Josh are taking the pxss
Joshua should’ve fought Usyk yesterday, but has to be forced to. Pathetic.
The inactivity of these pathetic heavyweights is what bothers me. Wilder, Fury, Joshua. These big mediocre clowns want to step into the ring as infrequently as humanly allowed. They sit around, picking their noses, running their mouths, soaking up the limelight as “champions”, with no interest of getting in the ring and testing their skills against the best available. They are not self-driven. They rely on hype and careful matchups to make money, since they are not talented at their craft, from a historical perspective. Just so sick of this mediocre nonsense. The Sweet Science, with its inherent dignity, and glorious history, deserves better, and the presence of these three goons at the top, proves that we’re living in the Age of Absurdity.
These guys get paid large sums of money. Every time they step into a ring, there’s at least an outside chance they’ll be killed or permanently injured. I’m sorry that they fail to satisfy your desire that they fight more frequently, but the 1930’s like era where heavyweight titlists fought sometimes 4-5 bouts a year is long, long gone.
Agree with much of what you it does make business sense to make the most for fighting the least if you can sell it. But Larry Holmes would have a field day with what they have today. Even the Holmes at the way end of his career.
USYK has no power, good boxer waaaaaay overrated
Chooses have him all he could handle
AJ in 2!
Joke of a fight. Usyk ducked Joyce who would have beaten him.
Are we talking about the same Joyce?? The Joyce that swings like his arms are covered in concrete and he’s underwater? The Joyce with no footwork at all and who is slower than shit? That Joyce? Usyk would EASILY beat Joyce!
Usyk already beat Joyce you muppet.
I agree with D; Usyk is overatted and obviously owns stock in Golden Boy because the Ring magazine his him ranked 4th PFP. Y’all say Andrade is boring, but Usyk is a slick master boxer, okay.
So what we know is that Usyk doesn’t bang as hard as Whyte. But he did outwork Chisora and easily won a decision. Not that this is a bad thing. You don’t need to punch as hard as the top guys to beat them in boxing.
I very much like Usyk in a Joshua fight. Povetkin had a lot of success. This time it’ll be a guy who is as skilled, southpaw and the best footwork at the weight class. Do not be surprised to see this go to the cards and Usyk either gets robbed or wins the UD.
Glad this ruling has been made as it frees up Usyk and Joyce to make their next moves.
As for the fight , I’d say AJ will need to treat him like a top 5 HW and realise that he is a danger. But on the evidence we’ve seen I’d expect him to beat Usyk provided he doesn’t underestimate him.
I think Joshua wins without much fuss. After the struggle Usyk had with Chisora he will need a massive improvement to have any chance.
Usyk might be a blown up Cruiserweight but he is strong, fast and uncomfortable. Don’t sleep in him.
Usyk will not only handle Joshua’s physique over 12 rounds but also his range and height. He is significantly smaller than Joshua. Can he do it? If he can, I look forward to an exciting match.
Usyk has the boxing skills and the ring-IQ but he will definitely have the size against him. Not only during the stare-down. I mean in every round, every time they exchange punches, in every clinch, everywhere in the ring.
Once Usyk managed Joyce. But I doubt Usyk can manage Joshua over 12 rounds. I actually question if Usyk can manage Joyce over 10 – 12 rounds too.
Joshua was defeated by Ruiz Jr. He has learnt the lesson. Joshua will be fully prepared.
Definitely one thing to consider is hand and foot speed. AJ is a big guy like Klitschko. His hands aren’t that fast and his foot work isn’t either. That’s why Klitschko grabbed Povetkin about 130 times over 12 rounds in their fight. The main reason Ruiz was able to drop AJ hard was that Ruiz had faster hands inside and simply got to the target first.
I can see Usyk doing that for a few rounds discouraging AJ. And with AJ’s whiskers who knows? He’s not as sturdy as Chisora.
You definitely have a point!
Big, hard-hitting, limited footwork and predictable, describes both Joshua and Wlad. Usyk will get help from and get sparring with Wlad. Can you get better preparation?
Usyk has obviously advantage in handspeed, footwork and skills. Handspeed too often confused and stressed Wlad in my opinion. I see that Joshua has the same problem at times.
I do not think Usyk can press back and respond to Joshuas attacks like Ruiz Jr did. He comes up short in both weight and power. Boxers like Tyson and Tua would mean major problems for Joshua because they were natural heavyweighters. Usyk is simply not. He is a tent in full storm. Sooner or later it will break.
Byrd, Pulev, Chagaev, Mormeck, Povetkin came up short to Wlads physique eventhough all of them where good boxers.
I am afraid Usyk will have the same problem. I wish Usyk the best. I really like him.
If this fight comes off (instead of the WBO title being stripped, which no one will care about) it is that kinds of dangerous unexpected fight. Usyk is definitely the better technician if the odds are right I’d bet on an upset, not a TKO or beating but a match where the Ukrainian outscores Joshua late due to activity and Joshua’s gas tank and wins 7-5 rounds.
Usyk showed against Chisora that his chin is not ready for a real big heavyweight. He is not like Holyfield who was a cruiserweight with a great chin for heavyweights. In my opinion the key of this fight is what will happen when Joshua lands a powershot on Usyk’s face… For me Joshua is favourite by KO
You didn’t even watch the fight between Usyk and Chisora and your dumb comment proves it. There was never a split-second in the fight between those two where Usyk was hurt at all. In fact, although the Ukrainian was smothered for most of that fight, he was rarely if ever landed clean upon head or body. He was able to ride out every attack that Chisora dealt out and make the Brit pay with well-timed offense. Usyk even staggered the stocky Brit in the contest. If you knew anything about boxing or actually watched the fight, you would have already known all of that.
And the other thing is Chisora is not an easy guy to stop. He’s been stopped but only by Whyte and Haye hard KO and retired against Fury. That’s it. Chisora gets hit plenty by most of the guys he fights.
The casuals strike again thinking that Usyk beats Joshua, the same people who think Wilder wins the trilogy, lol.
I thought Usyk looked like crap against Chisora and I don;t give him much of chance against any of the big 3.
Two years ago I reviewed 2 hours worth of old Usyk videos. Overall it was a reminder how special he could be in his prime (too much of it in amateurs) but I also saw him get dropped quite a few times – though most weren’t ruled knockdowns officially and it would have made no impact in that scoring system anyway – still he can be hurt, especially downstairs (some fat Uzbek dropped in both amateur and World Series ).
It was very rare to test him with clean shots when he was yonger & 200 lbs, he was blur of perpetual movement, direction changes and flurries & sharp punches like a supersized Sergio Martinez. But with age, weight and all the pounding his joints have taken doing that, he’s not that dynamo anymore and his punches wont be the mearly the same deterrent as they were at Crusiser.
wwhat are the parameters? 18ft or 22ft long ring? Wgat are the contractural aspects? How much of a cut is predeyermined?one of these “colossal” extrananzaa aught to emforve and alpw winnwe take all.