Heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk happy to fight former foe Anthony Joshua for a third time
Undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14KO) has told the Mail Online that he would happily complete the trilogy with British rival Anthony Joshua (28-3, 25KO), on the basis that he wants to repay him for making him famous.
The incredible Ukrainian said, “I don’t particularly want any rematches, but when I beat Tyson Fury for the second time and when Anthony Joshua beats Daniel Dubois, of course they want to do a third fight.
“From my point of view, I have no right to deny Anthony Joshua a third fight because he gave me two incredible fights.
“Anthony helped me become even more famous in the world. Anthony did it. And if happens with God’s help, then I am ready for a third fight with Anthony Joshua.”
Usyk is first scheduled for a rematch with Fury on December 3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for his unified world heavyweight championships.
A former undisputed champion at cruiserweight, ‘The Cat’ made history by becoming undisputed at heavyweight with a narrow points win over British behemoth Tyson Fury on May 18, 2024.
The Morecombe man got off to a lead over the European until Usyk was able to stagger the bigger man in round nine to score a knockdown and went on to win with scores of 114-113 both ways, but the Spanish judge Manuel Oliver Palomo’s 115-112 verdict handed the win to Usyk.
The pair will fight for a second time just days before Christmas on December 21.
34-year-old AJ lost back to back matches with Usyk in 2021 and 2022, but has since bounced back with four straight wins to land an IBF World heavyweight title shot at the newly-crowned champion Daniel Dubois in September.
Dubois was elevated from Interim champion to full champion after Usyk relinquished the title, and now makes the first defence to his fellow Brit in what will be a battle between North and South London.
If the favourite, Joshua, is able to defeat Dubois then he will be first in line for a shot at the winner of Usyk-Fury.