After Usyk VS Joshua Rematch, What Is Next?
The biggest heavyweight rematches in the history of boxing, between the unified heavyweight world champion, Oleksandr Usyk, and the British former world champion, Anthony Joshua, is still a month to go. Usyk and Joshua will meet for a second time on 20 August in the coastal city of Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Whoever emerges victorious is likely to be in the hunt for a unification showdown with the WBC champion – a belt still in the possession of Tyson Fury despite his retirement vow.
Even though, there are already some projections prepared by the fighters, especially the heavyweights, after the bout which is titled Rage On The Red Sea is completed.
Wilder Could Face The Winner of Usyk VS Joshua
One of those is the former WBC heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder. The manager, Shelly Finkel, suggests The Bronze Bomber could face the winner of Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua. Wilder has not fought since his knockout defeat to Tyson Fury last October but recently insisted he intends to fight again after considering retirement.
“Maybe the winner of Usyk and Joshua. I don’t know what Fury is doing? Maybe if Joshua wins it’s a huge fight in the UK (between those two) – there’s so many intangibles so we’re looking to see what happens in that fight,” Finkel said.
“I don’t care what Fury says, we’re waiting to see what he really wants to do because if he wants to fight the winner then he’s going to get it. But after that, where are the top guys?
Wilder has not fought since his October defeat to Tyson Fury.
“There’s only four real top guys in the heavyweights right now – Usyk, Joshua, Fury and Deontay.”
The American Wilder spent months out of the public eye following his defeat to Fury last year but revealed in May he would ‘continue his journey’ in boxing.
“I can’t stop right now. I love you guys so much. I can’t end it like this. This journey’s not over with. I must continue my journey.” Wilder said after defeat to Fury last year.
Anthony Joshua Lose Again to Oleksandr Usyk, Should He Retire?
Besides Wilder, the other fighter who already has plans after Usyk vs Joshua is Anthony Joshua himself. He will not be forced into retirement if he loses once again in his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn. Joshua is hoping to avenge the result last year after he suffered the second defeat of his illustrious career.
Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will look to reclaim his titles when he faces the Ukrainian next month. If he emerges victorious, Joshua would become a three-belt unified champion – and it may set up a mouth-watering undisputed clash with WBC champion Tyson Fury.
“No, I would be shocked,” Hearn told when quizzed about the prospect of Joshua retiring if he loses to Usyk for a second successive time. “AJ loves fighting, boxing is everything to him. He loves the sport, and I’m sure he’ll be around for a long time, but obviously we’d much rather win.”
Anthony Joshua knocked out Kubrat Pulev in 9th-round, December 2020.
The reassuring words from Matchroom Boxing boss Hearn comes after former heavyweight champion David Haye claimed Joshua faces premature retirement should he lose again to Usyk. Haye believes Joshua’s mentality would essentially force him to walk away from the sport.
“If he doesn’t win, I am not sure he wants to be in a sport where he knows he is not the best,” Haye said. “He got out-hustled by someone he knows he can beat and if – he does everything right and Usyk still beats him – I don’t know if there is anything else for him to do in the sport.”
It is getting more interesting to find out what is the agenda of big four heavyweights after the fight of The Rage On The Red Sea.
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