Hearn wants Oleksandr Usyk vs. Dereck Chisora on March 7 in Manchester

By Boxing News - 12/30/2019 - Comments

By Tim Royner: March 7th is the working date for a fight between former world title challenger Dereck Chisora (32-9, 23 KOs) and Oleksandr Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs), according to Eddie Hearn in speaking to IFL TV.

Usyk vs. Chisora isn’t set in stone though, as the IBF and WBO need to decide which of their mandatory’s go first for Anthony Joshua in 2020.

For Usyk to face Chisora, it would mean that the IBF would be the mandatory that goes first for Joshua’s title defense in April or May. If Joshua is forced to vacate one of those belts, it’s likely give up the World Boxing Organization strap, because then Usyk can fight for it.

He’s with Matchroom, and he would be facing Joseph Parker, who also is with the same company.

Usyk vs. Chisora, if it comes off for March 7, it’ll likely be shown on Sky Box Office. The two heavyweights would want too much money for it to be shown on regularly Sky.

Chisora vs. Chisora targeted for March 7 in Manchester

“March 7th, Chisora vs. Usyk at the Manchester Arena,” said Hearn to IFL TV. “Dereck Chisora, the plan is to fight Usyk. At the moment, the WBO is saying that Usyk is the mandatory for Joshua. The IBF is saying Pulev is. I’m saying, ‘Guys, there has to be an order here. All I want to know is, ‘Guys, you need to tell us who’s first?’

“My conversation with Usyk is, ‘if we’re told the WBO is first, we will fight you. If we’re not, then the Chisora fight is there, and then you fight the winner of Joshua-Pulev.’ So, Usyk is in a great position as well, but obviously everyone wants if they can, the biggest fight now,” said Hearn.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the former unified cruiserweight champion Usyk turns down the Chisora fight, because it would be risky for him. Usyk, 32, was badly marked up in his heavyweight debut against shot to pieces 38-year-old Chazz Witherspoon last October, and he didn’t look impressive. If Witherspoon was able to do that to Usyk, just imagine what Chisora would do to him.

At 6’3″, 215 lbs, Usyk is too light, and too weak to compete against big 240+ lb heavyweights like Chisora. Deontay Wilder weighs a little bit more than Usyk, but he’s got a long 6’7″ frame that allows him to generate incredible power. It’s Wilder’s long frame that makes him so power. Usyk doesn’t have that. He couldn’t punch even for a cruiserweight, let alone at heavyweight.

Hearn pulling for Fury to beat Wilder, then face Joshua

“I was thinking, ‘He’s got to win this fight, AJ,’ and that’s why it was what it was from a personal standpoint for a guy that I’m very fond of,” said Hearn about Joshua. “But of course for his business, our business, for Sky, and for everybody. Actually, if you’re part of British boxing, you should have been hoping that Joshua won that night, because we all benefit.

“He takes the sport to huge levels, and people don’t give him the credit,” said Hearn on Joshua. “He has played a massive part in changing the image of the sport, and we should be grateful for that.

“When he wins, we all win, not just people directly involved, but for the sport as a whole. And if he comes back and defends his titles in April, then British boxing is firing again, and hopefully Fury beats Wilder, and we’re all on top,” said Hearn. 

It’s obvious that Hearn doesn’t relish the idea of trying to negotiate a fight between Joshua and Wilder, because it wouldn’t be easy. Moreover, if Hearn secretly doesn’t want Joshua to face Wilder for fear that he knocks him out, then that’s another reason why he would root for Fury.

Joshua wouldn’t have to worry about getting hurt by Fury like he would in a fight with Wilder. That’s reason enough for Hearn to get his cheerleader pom poms out, and root for Fury to beat Wilder on February 29. Hearn could end up feeling sick if Wilder beats Fury though, and he’ll be stuck having to face the tough task of negotiating or ducking the fight.

Usyk more difficult for Joshua than Pulev – Barry Hearn

“I like the [Kubrat] Pulev fight, but I think the Usyk fight is more of a styles fight that is a little more difficult, because I think Usyk has better feet and a better brain,” said Barry Hearn to IFL TV about Joshua’s two mandatory challengers. “I think Pulev is a tough guy who is going to come and make it a difficult fight, but I think it’s out of that domain now.

“It’s down to the commercial reality of who’s prepared to do what to make it happen,” said Hearn. It’s going to come down to the governing bodies. I can’t believe these governing bodies shoot themselves in the foot all the time. They’ve got Anthony Joshua.

“Whoever is the best heavyweight in the world, you can have an opinion on that. But whoever is the biggest commercial draw in the world, there is no dispute. It’s Anthony Joshua,” said Barry. 

“So you should all want to be with that. It worked for [Andy Ruiz], it works for every fighter,” said Hearn. “They’re going to get paid, and they’re going to have a chance, because there’s flaws in Joshua still. So it’s going to be interesting.

“The governing bodies, everytime there’s a dispute, they create another belt or something. It just confuses me. Maybe I’m just getting old. Deontay Wilder skips out for fighting Dillian Whyte, because they make him an Emeritus champion. What the f— does that mean?” said Hearn about Wilder. 

Kubrat Pulev is 38-years-old, and looks badly slowed at this point in his career. He can’t punch, and the only way he can beat Joshua is to slug. Pulev used to have an excellent jab, but not anymore. The jab is gone. Joshua would have an easy time against Pulev with him standing in the pocket, and trading shots.

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