Oleksandr Usyk hits out at Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury wait as he teases UFC switch

Derek Chisora and Oleksandr Usyk eat burgers in dressing room

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Oleksandr Usyk has claimed that Dana White has offered him the chance to fight in the UFC, with negotiations over the heavyweight boxer’s next bout being held up. Usyk is the WBO’s mandatory challenger for their version of the heavyweight title, which is currently held by Anthony Joshua.

However, with Joshua recently signing a two-fight deal to face Tyson Fury in a blockbuster unification showdown, Usyk will have to wait for his chance to fight for the world title.

There have been talks about a fight with Joe Joyce, who beat Daniel Dubois back in November, which would be for the interim WBO belt.

However, Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk recently revealed that talks have been held up by the purse split.

Speaking to Sky Sports earlier this month, Krassyuk said: “Usyk cannot make any move as there’s no certainty around. Usyk is doing well, safe and sound, fit and working hard. And is ready to face whoever the WBO legally nominates.

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“But my last conversation regarding Joyce took place in the middle of January. I talked to George Warren [part of Joyce’s promotional team]. Since that time, we have hardly moved anywhere.”

“The problem is that there is no frame for negotiations as the split has not been officially confirmed by the WBO.

“The split should be defined as the average of the last three fights of both fighters. And according to my knowledge, it should look like 93 per cent in favour of Usyk.

“The minimum allowed by the WBO is 80/20. Unless the split is officially fixed, any negotiations make no sense as they would not lead to an agreement.”

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Now, in an interview with XSport.ua, Usyk has vowed not to “sit still and wait a year and a half for Joshua and Fury to fight” and even claimed he could fight for the UFC.

He said: “Recently Dana White wrote to me if I would like to try myself in the UFC. I replied, ‘Send an offer, I am ready.’

“So I have many options for what to do while waiting for the title fight. I do music, dance, recently discovered CrossFit, I bring up children.

“I’m not going to sit still and wait a year and a half for Joshua and Fury to fight. I’ll find someone to box with.”

In a recent post on social media, Usyk insisted he will make “the final decision” over a potential fight with Joyce, writing: “Joyce’s team made us an offer.

“The offer was unsuitable, so we made a more viable counter-offer. Joyce shouldn’t think too much of himself and fall in line with everyone else. I’ll be the one making the final decision.”

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