Hearn 'to hold' Joshua vs Usyk talks TODAY after Fury's court ruling

‘It looks like we have a fight to make’ – Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter to hold talks with Eddie Hearn TODAY over a potential Anthony Joshua fight as his undisputed bout with Tyson Fury hits another hurdle in the shape of Deontay Wilder

  • Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter says Anthony Joshua fight talks will begin TODAY 
  • Joshua was set to take on Tyson Fury in a highly-anticipated clash on August 14  
  • But a legal mediator ruled Fury must fight Deontay Wilder again by September  
  • Promoter Frank Warren has admitted to fight is no longer ‘definitely happening’ 

Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk has revealed he will hold talks with Eddie Hearn on Tuesday morning over a potential clash with Anthony Joshua, after the Brit’s undisputed showdown with Tyson Fury hit yet another stumbling block. 

After a lengthy period of negotiation, both camps were finally singing from the same hymn sheet, with Fury and his American promoter Bob Arum confirming the all-British heavyweight blockbuster was set for August 14 in Saudi Arabia. 

However, fresh doubts were raised on Monday, as a US judge ruled Fury must fight Deontay Wilder for a third time by September 15, with the Gypsy King signing a two-fight agreement prior to his stoppage win over the American in February last year. 

The arbitrator, Daniel Weinstein, also ruled that Fury and Wilder can agree to an extension on their fight deadline, however, and talks are now underway to reach what could be an eight-figure settlement, which would see the American step aside and allow the unification bout to take place. 

Should those negotiations prove futile, Usyk is the current mandatory challenger to Joshua’s WBO strap, and the Ukrainian’s promoter insists his fighter would then be next in line. 


Oleksandr Usyk (right) is the mandatory challenger to Anthony Joshua’s (left) WBO strap

Tyson Fury emphatically stopped Deontay Wilder when they last fought in February 2020

‘The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes this morning was several texts on my phone from different people around the world stating the same fact: Fury versus AJ is off. It is off,’ Krassyuk told Express Sport on Tuesday morning.

‘Regarding Usyk, it depends. I will speak to Eddie (Hearn) in one hour, we have already exchanged texts this morning.

‘It looks like we have a fight to make. We have agreed to speak in one hour when things will become clearer.’ 

The prospect of a fight between Usyk and Joshua was an initial hurdle for Hearn, Arum and Frank Warren to overcome, with the former undisputed cruiserweight champion defeating Dereck Chisora via unanimous decision in October last year. 

But with both parties pushing towards the undisputed showdown, the governing bodies ordered a WBO interim clash between Usyk and Joe Joyce, a fight Krassyuk says would no longer make sense if the Fury fight is off. 

Usyk defeated British heavyweight Derek Chisora via unanimous decision in October 2020

‘Usyk is mandatory for WBO and the only obstacle that made them sanction the interim was the huge unification between Fury and Joshua,’ Krassyuk said.

‘And if the fight is off then there is no other obstacles and Joshua has to deal with his mandatory.’      

On the Usyk-Joyce fight, he added: ‘I’m not sure if it will still take place after this kind of news (of a third fight between Fury and Wilder) has emerged.’ 

Importantly, Fury’s promoter Warren has insisted that the fight with Joshua remains the priority, though admitting the Wilder situation is one that needs resolving. 

Warren told Sportsmail on Tuesday: ‘We obviously have to try to reach some accommodation with Wilder. If we can’t then Tyson has got to make a decision on whether he wants to fight him or not.’

Asked if Fury-Joshua remains the priority, he added: ‘Absolutely. That is what everyone wants, what the public wants, we all want to see it.

‘But at the moment we have to deal with Wilder one way or another. We will work hard to make it happen to keep the fight on.

‘He will have to be satisfied. We will have to have to satisfy him, and if it is a settlement he will want paying for it, no doubt about that.’




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