By Barry Holbrook: Eddie Hearn says Anthony Joshua is willing to take an interim fight in between his contractual rematch with Oleksandr Usyk if the match is delayed due to the war in Ukraine.
This week, IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) revealed that he’d joined the Ukrainian defense battalion to defend his contrary in response to the Russian invasion.
Earlier today, Usyk told CNN: “My honor belongs to my country, to my family. So there is no fear, absolutely no fear. There’s just bafflement – how could this be in the 21st century?”
If the Russia-Ukraine war continues for many months/years, Usyk won’t be available to defend his three titles against Joshua for a long, long time.
Recognizing that Usyk might not be available to defend against Joshua for the time being, Hearn wants to set up an interim fight to keep him busy.
Options for Joshua’s interim fight:
- Deontay Wilder
- Frank Sanchez
- Filip Hrgovic
- Andy Ruiz Jr
- Joe Joyce
- Daniel Dubois
- Tony Yoka
Hearn might not want to put Joshua in any risky fights while he’s waiting for his rematch with Usyk, but he might need to.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin might choose to keep his army in Ukraine until the bitter end, seeking to conquer the country at all costs.
That’s not going to happen quickly, which means Joshua & Hearn need to go by the assumption that they may not ever get the rematch with Usyk.
“It’s difficult to speak on behalf of Oleksandr Usyk. Firstly, I thought with everybody in Ukraine and people showing incredible bravery out there, particularly some of the great fighters of the past and Oleksandr as well,” said Eddie Hearn to MMAHour when asked if there’s a possibility that Usyk won’t be able to fight Joshua soon due to the war in Ukraine.
“He can have the time that he needs,” Hearn continued about Usyk. “We [Joshua] don’t want any other fight but Oleksandr Usyk. Whether there’s a delay for that fight and we have an interim bout, I guess that’s subject to the situation with Oleksandr Usyk and how much time he needs.
“It’s a very emotional time and personal time for the people of Ukraine. So we’ll respect them and give them all the time, but we wouldn’t be looking to get out of our obligation, is what I’m saying.
“The only fight AJ wants right now is Oleksandr Usyk. If we have to fight in between, no problem at all, but we’ll respect this time for Oleksandr Usyk and speed to his advisers.
“If there needs to be a delay for the contractual period, we will be happy to grant that, but we want that fight,” said Hearn on Joshua wanting the Usyk rematch, even if he must wait for it. “We don’t want that obligation to slide away,” Hearn said.