Oleksandr Usyk currently stands as the mandatory challenger for Anthony Joshua's WBO title. The Ukrainian was handed the position last year due to his achievements in the cruiserweight division. If Usyk beats Derek Chisora on October 31 and Joshua overcomes Kubrat Pulev, then the Brit will be ordered to defend against his WBO mandatory next. However, Joshua is targeting a huge fight against WBC champion Tyson Fury. If this happens, he could well be forced to drop the WBO belt. Usyk’s co-promoter Alexander Krassyuk said [via talksport]: “Usyk is mandatory for the WBO title, he is not mandatory for AJ personally. “He is mandatory for the belt and whoever owns the belt is the possible opponent. Many people from a boxing audience would love to see Usyk and AJ, especially here in Ukraine but also throughout the world. [But] Fury-AJ is much more anticipated because they are two British guys, two heavyweights. “Maybe there’s a chance that they’re going to fight for the undisputed championship, which has never happened before in the history of boxing. This is a cherry on the cake. If there is a chance for AJ to fight Fury, I think he will vacate, that’s my personal feeling. “We agreed that as soon as AJ fights Pulev and wins, he will have to face Usyk. This is our agreement but never on paper. This is what we agreed with Eddie when we gave the road for Pulev and AJ for the IBF. “But there was also a term in the case the Fury fight turns out – then AJ may choose Fury as the principal fight. But one remark – it cannot happen for the WBO belt, AJ would have to vacate. “Anything could happen, Fury vs Wilder III may end up in favour of Wilder. And, if it goes that way, Fury vs AJ is not actual anymore. It’s so uncertain that making plans now is stupid.”
Source: TalkSport/