It seems likely that the heavyweight unification bout between Anthony Joshua 24-1 (22) and Tyson Fury 30-0-1 (21) will go ahead with all four major belts on the line after the WBO reached out to mandatory contender Oleksandr Usyk 18-0 (13).
Ukrainian southpaw Usyk, who unified the cruiserweight division before moving up to the open weight class, is due his shot at WBO, WBA and IBF champion Joshua.
The solution being worked on would see Usyk face WBO number two Joe Joyce 12-0 (11) for an interim version of the belt, allowing Joshua to face WBC champion Fury for the undisputed championship as planned.
“I received the call from George Warren [the son of Joyce’s promoter Frank Warren] with the offer to promote Usyk vs Joyce for the interim WBO heavyweight championship this spring,” Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk told Sky Sports.
“We also received the letter from WBO saying that they are considering granting sanction for AJ vs Fury.
“But Usyk has never received any serious offer nor anyone approached him with the offer to ‘step aside’. We all read it from media.
“I know that the WBO in general and its president Paco Valcarcel in particular will never violate the rules of its organisation and sanction the major fight without Usyk’s consent.
“So now is the best time for the AJ vs Fury fight promoters to make Usyk a serious offer either to fight the WBO champion or to step aside and fight for the interim.”
Usyk, 34, is coming off a 12-round decision win over gatekeeper Dereck Chisora in London in October.
In his last outing the 35-year-old Joyce knocked out previously undefeated Daniel Dubois in 10 rounds in London in November.
Joyce’s manager Sam Jones of SJAM Boxing told Sky Sports: “We’ve been in talks with Joe’s promoter Frank Warren for a couple of weeks now. We are looking at extending Joe’s deal with Frank and BT given that it is going to expire.
“He is now in a very strong position after beating Daniel Dubois who was tipped worldwide as one of the best young talents in the world. Joe and the team wish Daniel all the best with his recovery from a bad eye injury and I am certain he’ll come again but this is now Joe Joyce’s time to fulfil his dream of becoming world heavyweight champion.
“As well as that we have also been in talks to fight Usyk next which could potentially be for the interim world title which would be a massive fight.
“I think this is a fair outcome for Joe and Usyk to contest for the interim title as AJ vs Fury is the biggest fight in world boxing and it’s only right it is for the undisputed world heavyweight title.”
Joyce told Sky Sports in a previous interview: “Dereck Chisora put up a valiant effort but Usyk’s skills were better. Against me? It would be a different story.
“It would be a mental battle but a physical one too because he’d have a big ‘Juggernaut’ coming towards him for 12 rounds.”
