Oleksandr Usyk will be a very interested observer in the upcoming fight between WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former UFC beltholder Francis Ngannou.
The non-title fight is scheduled to take place on October 28 in Saudi Arabia.
Usyk was in action on Saturday night in Poland, when he knocked out Daniel Dubois to retain the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight titles.
Dubois was the mandatory challenger under the WBA.
Waiting in the wings if the IBF’s mandatory challenger, undefeated Filip Hrgovic.
BoxingScene.com recently reported that the IBF is expected to issue an order that mandates Usyk to defend his crown against Hrgovic next.
Usyk and his handlers are hoping to finalize a deal to face Fury in a 2024 undisputed showdown.
Serious discussions were held earlier this year, but they were unable to reach an agreement on the financial terms for the rematch.
If they are unable to reach an agreement with Fury, then Hrgovic will be the next opponent for the champion from Ukraine.
“Hrgovic is the mandatory but if we’re going to get the unification [against Fury] we’re going to go for the unification,” Egis Klimas, Usyk’s manager, said. “If the unification is not done of course Hrgovic will be next.”
While Usyk waits to work out his future – there is a mountain of controversy surrounding the fifth round of his KO win over Dubois.
There is ongoing debate over whether or not Dubois landed a low blow to send Usyk down in pain for several minutes. Some agree with the referee’s decision to call it a low blow – while others believe the punch was legal or borderline.
Usyk and his team are very firm on their position that Dubois landed a low blow.
“You are not allowed to hit a man in [that area]. Listen, boxing it’s a sport for gentlemen, it’s not a street fight. It’s boxing. How can I be guilty in wearing shorts?,” Usyk said in response to critics who feel his trunks were too high.
“The low blow comes not from wearing shorts like this but the low blow itself. I’m ready to fight without shorts.”