Anthony Joshua’s conqueror, Oleksandr Usyk said he is only interested in fighting Britain’s Tyson Fury next and wants a bout to unify the world heavyweight titles held early 2023.
The 35-year-old Ukrainian retained his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight titles with a split-decision win over Joshua in August when he last fought and wants to add Fury’s WBC crown to his collection.
Fury, 34, fights Derek Chisora for a third time on December 3, having beaten him comfortably in 2011 and 2014.
“Right now my team is seeking conversations with Tyson Fury, and he is really an unpredictable person, so we can’t guarantee when,” Usyk said.
He added that he did not want to face anyone else until he had Fury’s belt in his hands and proposed the fight take place at Kyiv’s Olimpiyskiy Stadium.
“But it is not me who chooses the venue, so I guess it will (this time) be Saudi Arabia.”
Usyk was in Lisbon to speak about the ongoing war in Ukraine and the importance of highlighting the actions of Russia.
He said Ukrainians will continue to “fight back against the aggressor and bully” of their neighbours and also raised the possibility of the world heavyweight title fight to take place in Kyiv.
“The organisers are trying to figure out where they can earn more money. For me, yes, I would really like to fight in Ukraine. The country is really capable of hosting this kind of fight.
“I would be really happy to see it happen in the Olympic Arena in Ukraine. But it is not me who chooses the venue, so I guess it will (this time) be Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Fury will fight Chisora on December 3, 2022, a third meeting between the pair, and Usyk has questioned why it needed to take place.
