Usyk next fight will be in March

[Artem]

Oleksandr Usyk will come back to the ring on March 18 in Madison Square Garden, New York, on the undercard of Gennady Golovkin - Daniel Jacobs fight, said K2 Promotions managing director Tom Loeffler.
Roman Gonzalez vs Carlos Cuadras rematch is also targeted for this card.
Unification against Gassiev would be perfect fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Oleksandr Usyk will come back to the ring on March 18 in Madison Square Garden, New York, on the undercard of Gennady Golovkin - Daniel Jacobs fight, said K2 Promotions managing director Tom Loeffler.
Roman Gonzalez vs Carlos Cuadras rematch is also targeted for this card.
Unification against Gassiev would be perfect fight.

Personally I think he shouldn't look to unify YET!!

He should fight another voluntary, But not someone ranked between 10-15..

Boxers like Maksim Vlasov, Yunier Dorticos, Ilunga Makabu , Beibut Shumenov or Victor Emilio Ramirez..

What other way to prove himself than a legit voluntary. Kinda like Crolla

[cold187]

well dorticos is supposed to fight shumenov next
he will probably fight a masterneck or maybe loeflerr wil get ofaloabi out of retirement.

he werent fight gassiev as that fight will headline itself

i reckon theyll get durodola

[Artem]

Boxers like Maksim Vlasov, Yunier Dorticos, Ilunga Makabu , Beibut Shumenov or Victor Emilio Ramirez..
What other way to prove himself than a legit voluntary. Kinda like Crolla

Dorticos is WBA interim champ, Shumenov is WBA regular champ, as I understand they should fight in early 2017, and the winner should face Lebedev in next fight, who is WBA super champ

Makabu and Ramirez both had lost their last fights by KO and not in WBO top 15.
Vlasov looks very impressive with TKO wins over Sillah and Chachkiev, so he is good and credible opponent.

[Artem]

he will probably fight a masterneck or maybe loeflerr wil get ofaloabi out of retirement.
i reckon theyll get durodola

fight against Afolabi or Durodola would be interesting to watch, also I think that Hunter is good option for fight in USA.
Hope that K2 will not choose Masternak or Beljo)

[jujigatame]

Gassiev, Briedis, or Huck would be great. I'd even take Cunningham. Please no Masternak or Afolabi.

[Artem]

Gassiev, Briedis, or Huck would be great. I'd even take Cunningham. Please no Masternak or Afolabi.

Briedis and Huck will fight in March/April for WBC interim belt

[jujigatame]

Gassiev, Briedis, or Huck would be great. I'd even take Cunningham. Please no Masternak or Afolabi.

Briedis and Huck will fight in March/April for WBC interim belt

Good fight, I hope that gets US TV coverage.

I also hope Glowacki gets back in there soon.

[crusader]

Can't see it being Gassiev, Huck, or Breidis. Gassiev just won the title in a grueling fight, and I doubt as newly crowned champ he takes on such a hard opponent just a few months later. As mentioned, Huck and Briedis seem on track to meet for an interim belt.

I'm expecting someone like Masternak (gave Bellew a 7-5 fight) for this, and hopefully a better opponent later in the year. Maybe Lebedev wants another shot at a title? Or does he still have the WBA belt? know some ABCs have a rule by which a fighter loses their belt for suffering any loss, even if not in a match for the organization's title.

[Artem]

Maybe Lebedev wants another shot at a title? Or does he still have the WBA belt?

He is still WBA super champ, and has to fight against winner of Shumenov-Dorticos

[jujigatame]

If Huck and Briedis are fighting each other around the same time, Gassiev is the best we can hope for. If he doesn't want to take a fight with the #1 CW only 3 months after the Lebedev fight (which would be somewhat understandable) then I think there isn't much hope for a good opponent. Steve Cunningham might be the best we can hope for. I guess they could do a Glowacki rematch but I don't know how much interest there will be in that.

[punchoutsb]

If Huck and Briedis are fighting each other around the same time, Gassiev is the best we can hope for. If he doesn't want to take a fight with the #1 CW only 3 months after the Lebedev fight (which would be somewhat understandable) then I think there isn't much hope for a good opponent. Steve Cunningham might be the best we can hope for. I guess they could do a Glowacki rematch but I don't know how much interest there will be in that.

I could absolutely see Cunningham. It's not the fight I want, but it makes sense at this point.

[jujigatame]

Only obstacle is that Cunningham is a Haymon guy and Usyk is presumably gonna be fighting on HBO. HBO and Haymon traditionally do not work together.

Vlasov could be a possibility. He may be a blown up SMW, but he did KO Sillakh and Chakhiev, so he's not the least deserving opponent around.

[Artem]

CEO of K2 Ukraine told that fight in March wouldn't be an unification and it would be voluntary defence. Now WBO-15 are:

1. Noel Gevor (International) - is going to fight against Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in IBF eliminator
2. Mairis Briedis - is going to fight for interim WBC belt against Huck
3. Firat Arslan (WBO Europe) - big name in CW, former champion, but he is 46 now and it is big question in what shape he is.
4. Krzysztof Glowacki - first their fight was pretty one-sided, so I don't see a reason of rematch at this moment.
5. Kevin Lerena - fighting vs Vikapita Meroro in February
6. Krzysztof Wlodarczyk - is going to fight against Noel Gevor in IBF eliminator
7. Damir Beljo - was first choice for fight in December but withdrew from it due to his bad shape, so may be he would be one of the candidate again
8. Michael Hunter (NABO) - best option for fight in USA, because he is young, undefeated prospect and he is american.
9. Maxim Vlasov - good option too, he is coming after wins over Sillah and Chakhkiev
10. Rakhim Chakhkiev - I think he will be excluded in next update of top-15
11. Thabiso Mchunu - I think he will be excluded in next update of top-15
12. Dmitry Kudryashov - his promoter wants to move him on WBC line
13. Imre Szello (Int-Cont) - undefeated prospect, but like Beljo fighting mostly at home and doesn't have huge wins
14. Michal Cieslak - he is polish hope at CW, in 2016 he beat 1 former title challenger and 2 undefeated prospects
15. Olanrewaju Durodola - pretty solid opponent for voluntary defence.

[punchoutsb]

CEO of K2 Ukraine told that fight in March wouldn't be an unification and it would be voluntary defence. Now WBO-15 are:

1. Noel Gevor (International) - is going to fight against Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in IBF eliminator
2. Mairis Briedis - is going to fight for interim WBC belt against Huck
3. Firat Arslan (WBO Europe) - big name in CW, former champion, but he is 46 now and it is big question in what shape he is.
4. Krzysztof Glowacki - first their fight was pretty one-sided, so I don't see a reason of rematch at this moment.
5. Kevin Lerena - fighting vs Vikapita Meroro in February
6. Krzysztof Wlodarczyk - is going to fight against Noel Gevor in IBF eliminator
7. Damir Beljo - was first choice for fight in December but withdrew from it due to his bad shape, so may be he would be one of the candidate again
8. Michael Hunter (NABO) - best option for fight in USA, because he is young, undefeated prospect and he is american.
9. Maxim Vlasov - good option too, he is coming after wins over Sillah and Chakhkiev
10. Rakhim Chakhkiev - I think he will be excluded in next update of top-15
11. Thabiso Mchunu - I think he will be excluded in next update of top-15
12. Dmitry Kudryashov - his promoter wants to move him on WBC line
13. Imre Szello (Int-Cont) - undefeated prospect, but like Beljo fighting mostly at home and doesn't have huge wins
14. Michal Cieslak - he is polish hope at CW, in 2016 he beat 1 former title challenger and 2 undefeated prospects
15. Olanrewaju Durodola - pretty solid opponent for voluntary defence.

If the fight were in Germany I'd be 100% confident it would be Arslan, but I highly doubt they'll bring him to the States. Hunter or Vlasov are probably the front runners.

[Artem]

If the fight were in Germany I'd be 100% confident it would be Arslan, but I highly doubt they'll bring him to the States. Hunter or Vlasov are probably the front runners.

I agree with you. I think that also Andrew Tabiti could be good choice for fight in USA.

[Evander]

Didn't impress last time out.

[Andrew]

CEO of K2 Ukraine told that fight in March wouldn't be an unification and it would be voluntary defence. Now WBO-15 are:

1. Noel Gevor (International) - is going to fight against Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in IBF eliminator
2. Mairis Briedis - is going to fight for interim WBC belt against Huck
3. Firat Arslan (WBO Europe) - big name in CW, former champion, but he is 46 now and it is big question in what shape he is.
4. Krzysztof Glowacki - first their fight was pretty one-sided, so I don't see a reason of rematch at this moment.
5. Kevin Lerena - fighting vs Vikapita Meroro in February
6. Krzysztof Wlodarczyk - is going to fight against Noel Gevor in IBF eliminator
7. Damir Beljo - was first choice for fight in December but withdrew from it due to his bad shape, so may be he would be one of the candidate again
8. Michael Hunter (NABO) - best option for fight in USA, because he is young, undefeated prospect and he is american.
9. Maxim Vlasov - good option too, he is coming after wins over Sillah and Chakhkiev
10. Rakhim Chakhkiev - I think he will be excluded in next update of top-15
11. Thabiso Mchunu - I think he will be excluded in next update of top-15
12. Dmitry Kudryashov - his promoter wants to move him on WBC line
13. Imre Szello (Int-Cont) - undefeated prospect, but like Beljo fighting mostly at home and doesn't have huge wins
14. Michal Cieslak - he is polish hope at CW, in 2016 he beat 1 former title challenger and 2 undefeated prospects
15. Olanrewaju Durodola - pretty solid opponent for voluntary defence.

If the fight were in Germany I'd be 100% confident it would be Arslan, but I highly doubt they'll bring him to the States. Hunter or Vlasov are probably the front runners.

Vlasov is a good shout for March if no unification. Coming off a good win so I'm fine with that,

[TooEasy12]

Lebedev or Gassiev would be great, however, I dont think we are going to see a unification fight. Probably just a high rated contender.

[Evander]

Anyone see Usyk punches.
Soft week and he's a show off with no back up.

[crusader]

Ya, the world champ who outclassed Glowacki and Mchunu, dominated the WSB, and won gold at the Olympics, Worlds, and Euros really blows, doesnt he?

[Evander]

Yeah ok mate

[Drinquor]

Only obstacle is that Cunningham is a Haymon guy and Usyk is presumably gonna be fighting on HBO. HBO and Haymon traditionally do not work together.

K2 is looking at putting this on the undercard of Golovkin (HBO) v Jacobs (Haymon). There is no "obstacle"

[crusader]

An article on bokser.org states that it's probably going to be the former US Olympian and amateur standout Micheal Hunter. Hunter, who stopped Andy Ruiz in the World Amateur Championships, is coming off a near shutout of Isiah Thomas, and while not the most proven I think he has more ability than other seemingly realistic options like Beljo and Vlasov.

As was the case with Mchunu, it probably wouldn't make for a particularly entertaining styles clash.