The proposed fight between Oleksandr Usyk 18-0 (13) and Joe ‘Juggernaut’ Joyce 12-0 (11) for the interim WBO heavyweight title is likely to go to purse bid.
The WBO agreed to create an interim title to allow WBO, WBA and IBF champion Anthony Joshua 24-1 (22) to face WBC counterpart Tyson Fury 30-0-1 (21) in a four-belt unification bout in the summer.
If the winner of that bout doesn’t face the Usyk-Joyce winner – unlikely, as Joshua and Fury are planning a two-fight series – they will be stripped of the title and the interim titleholder will be elevated to full champion status.
Usyk’s co-promoter Eddie Hearn said he will make every effort to secure the rights to promote the fight.
“The WBO have ruled [Usyk vs Joyce] for the interim title with a view to the winner fighting the winner of AJ-Fury,” the Matchroom Boxing boss told Sky Sports.
“I believe that fight will go to purse bids in a couple of weeks.
“Certainly we will be bidding for that fight. It is a good fight.
“There is history between the two of them from the amateur game.
“It is a fight that we would be interested in putting together.”
Back in October Ukrainian southpaw Usyk, 34, scored a 12-round unanimous decision win over rugged gatekeeper Dereck Chisora 32-10 (23) at Wembley Arena in London.
The 35-year-old Joyce of London is coming off a career-best win over previously undefeated Daniel ‘Dynamite’ Dubois 15-1 (14) who he stopped in the 10th round at Church House in Westminster, London in November.
Both Team Usyk and Team Joyce are keen to get the fight made.
“We are still in negotiations to get the fight done,” said Joyce’s manager Sam Jones of S-Jam Boxing.
Meanwhile, former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker 27-2 (21) of New Zealand – who will face undefeated countryman Junior Fa 19-0 (10) in Auckland on Saturday night – wants a crack at getting his old belt back.
The 29-year-old Parker is ranked number three by the WBO behind Usyk at number one and Joyce at number two.
“You have to look at the resumes of the two fighters [Parker and Joyce],” Parker’s manager David Higgins told Sky Sports in a recent interview.
“Joseph Parker is a former WBO world champion. He has got some wins on his resume, including Carlos Takam, Andy Ruiz and Alexander Dimitrenko.
“He took Anthony Joshua the distance. If Joe beats Junior Fa – and remember Fa is the current WBO number six – so if Joe beats Fa, I think on balance of the evidence, he would have to go to number two.
“But obviously we would lobby the good people of the WBO and that would be at the discretion of their ratings committee.
“It’s an interesting question, but we would hope to go back to number two.”
