After defeating Anthony Joshua in London back in 2021, Usyk became the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion. The two would later go on to rematch, with Usky once again getting the better of his English rival and holding onto the belts. Since then, there’s been a lot of speculation over who the Ukrainian will fight next. It’s unclear whether we’ll see a fight for the unified heavyweight title, with all of the belts on the line.
Although Oleksander Usyk started out his professional career as a cruiserweight, he’s proven critics wrong and shown he’s one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world after defeating Joshua and winning the heavyweight world titles. He was the first-ever cruiserweight champion to hold four belts undisputed and has now become one of just three boxers in history to win world titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight.
Most fans want to see the biggest heavyweight clash between Usyk and Tyson Fury, which would give one of these boxers a chance to become the undisputed champion. With both boxers undefeated in their professional careers, it would be a massive fight. However, big fights often fail to materialize in boxing, and it’s possible that both men will be looking for other options. You can bet on the latest heavyweight boxing odds at Betway, with great offers and promotions too.
Tyson Fury
Tyson Fury is the obvious option for Usyk. He currently holds the WBC belt, the only title stopping Usyk from being the unified champion. The 34-year-old is undefeated in the ring and is regarded as the top heavyweight in the world right now. Naturally, this would be Usyk’s first choice, and he’s spoken about his desire to fight the Gypsy King several times in interviews.
The issue is Fury’s unpredictable nature and the fact that he currently has a fight booked with fellow British fighter Derick Chisora. Fury has a history of pulling out of big fights, with a rematch against Wladimir Klitschko and a big fight with Anthony Joshua failing to happen despite repeated attempts. The decision for Fury to fight Chisora, who has three losses in his last four fights, raised a few eyebrows from boxing fans. It was seen as a way for him to duck the challenge of Usyk, although it’s sure to also make a lot of money after selling out the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
Usyk spoke about a potential fight with Fury in early 2023, but it remains to be seen whether this can be made. “Right now, my team is seeking conversations with Tyson Fury, and he is really an unpredictable person, so we can’t guarantee when,” Usyk said in a recent interview. “For me, the idea would be to fight maybe early February or the beginning of March, like March 4, because I am an orthodox Christian.” Ideally, Usyk would prefer a date before Orthodox Easter on April 16, as he’ll be fasting then.
Daniel Dubois
Tyson Fury remains the most likely option for Usyk’s next opponent, but if an agreement can’t be made with Fury’s camp, the Ukrainian could turn to another fighter. Daniel Dubois looks like a good potential candidate and has previously spoken about fighting Usyk. Dubois is only 25 but is quickly rising through the heavyweight rankings and has 17 KOs in 18 wins.Dubois is fighting on the undercard of the Fury Chisora fight so he won’t be ready until after December. However, he could still be a candidate if Fury needs more time to prepare. Dubois could be a risk for Usyk, as he’s a powerful puncher. But the Ukrainian would most likely be far too skilled for him. He dismantled Joshua over the two fights and would probably do the same again in this fight if it were to go ahead.