Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua II | Sky Sports PPV - 20 August 2022

[jimmystone]

Revisiting this a week after my last post and the Russians have invaded and Usyk has, according to sources, indeed signed up to fight. I would be staggered if he boxed this year, if at all. Joshua should move on.

Yeah, fornicate knows what Hearn was thinking when he claimed the Ukraine situation wouldn’t affect the Joshua fight. No chance it happens anytime soon.

Hearn is a tosser. The very fact the war is happening affects the Joshua fight. Usyk's head won't be on boxing. Joshua and Hearn should put no pressure on Usyk to negotiate to box at the moment.

[Counter-puncher]

Revisiting this a week after my last post and the Russians have invaded and Usyk has, according to sources, indeed signed up to fight. I would be staggered if he boxed this year, if at all. Joshua should move on.

Yeah, fornicate knows what Hearn was thinking when he claimed the Ukraine situation wouldn’t affect the Joshua fight. No chance it happens anytime soon.

Hearn is a tosser. The very fact the war is happening affects the Joshua fight. Usyk's head won't be on boxing. Joshua and Hearn should put no pressure on Usyk to negotiate to box at the moment.

wouldn't dream of it, I'm sure...

[JamesPhilips]

Surely it won’t happen now? At least not in the timescale expected

[CaptainSpacerod]

Assuming it doesn’t happen who does AJ fight ? He can’t go into the winner of Fury Whyte having not fought in a year.

Any chance he fights Joyce or Dubois ?

[Blueprint]

What happens now? Does USyK become champion in recess?

According to CNN, Usyk is living with his family in a basement.

[Ruthless-RKO]

What happens now? Does USyK become champion in recess?

According to CNN, Usyk is living with his family in a basement.

WBA already have a lot of belts..

Have AJ fight Bryan/Dubois and put Usyk as recess..

That sorts out WBA.

WBO use the Interim when they do, which isn't bad.. Parker vs. JJJ

IBF are just known to strip boxer.. Or would have Hrgovic vs. Zhang for the belt? doubt it..

It's more difficult because Usyk has 3 belts.. 4 if you include the IBO.

What's he supposed to do, come back and fight 3 different boxers to re-capture the 3 belts?

Doesn't seem fair. We as fans were never meant to get an undisputed title fight.

[joshj909]

Unless they come to a cross-org agreement, we could see a number of interim belt holders. Who does AJ face with or without any belts on the line in the coming months? He's ranked 4th, 3rd, 5th so might not be included in any interim or eliminator fights. With Fury, Whyte, Joyce, Parker, Hrgovic and Zhang out of the picture. Who does AJ face?

I also don't think that Usyk should have to unify his belt against all these new guys. Sort out a new list of mandatory challengers through eliminators, maybe even face them off against each other and just ride it out until the end of the year until decisions can be made.

[joshj909]

Assuming it doesn’t happen who does AJ fight ? He can’t go into the winner of Fury Whyte having not fought in a year.

Any chance he fights Joyce or Dubois ?

Personally, if he isn't offered an interim belt on the line, I think he'll take a fringe top 15 guy. Joyce/Parker seems likely while Dubois is reportedly looking to face Bryan. After Fury and Whyte, you then have Wilder (unlikely), Ruiz 3 (unlikely), Chisora (possible), Hunter (possible), Ortiz (possible), Sanchez (unlikely), Wallin (possible), Helenius (possible), Hughie (possible).

[Blueprint]

The next option is let Usyk keep all his belts until the end of the year(Maximum) and let Anthony Joshua have an interim fight before the fight at the end of the year?

It means Usyk is not punished for fighting for his country.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Usyk’s manager Egis Kilmas put some perspective on why boxing is not important for the both at the moment: “They’re in big danger.

“When the bullets start flying, the bullet doesn’t care if you’re a world champion.

“The bullet just goes through.”

[garethhop]

Eddie Hearn's interview from Friday is just the most extraordinary thing when he talks about the Ukraine. Really distasteful stuff trying to have banter with Kugan.

And incredibly bright, massively successful businessman, who has absolutley no fornicating idea.

[KiwiRider]

Assuming it doesn’t happen who does AJ fight ? He can’t go into the winner of Fury Whyte having not fought in a year.

Any chance he fights Joyce or Dubois ?

Personally, if he isn't offered an interim belt on the line, I think he'll take a fringe top 15 guy. Joyce/Parker seems likely while Dubois is reportedly looking to face Bryan. After Fury and Whyte, you then have Wilder (unlikely), Ruiz 3 (unlikely), Chisora (possible), Hunter (possible), Ortiz (possible), Sanchez (unlikely), Wallin (possible), Helenius (possible), Hughie (possible).

I do like how you have given the options some thought.
I just don't like ANY of the options

[jimmystone]

Eddie Hearn's interview from Friday is just the most extraordinary thing when he talks about the Ukraine. Really distasteful stuff trying to have banter with Kugan.

And incredibly bright, massively successful businessman, who has absolutley no fornicating idea.

The guy is a greedy throbber born in the right place at the right time. That's all he is. No more, no less.

[joshj909]

Assuming it doesn’t happen who does AJ fight ? He can’t go into the winner of Fury Whyte having not fought in a year.

Any chance he fights Joyce or Dubois ?

Personally, if he isn't offered an interim belt on the line, I think he'll take a fringe top 15 guy. Joyce/Parker seems likely while Dubois is reportedly looking to face Bryan. After Fury and Whyte, you then have Wilder (unlikely), Ruiz 3 (unlikely), Chisora (possible), Hunter (possible), Ortiz (possible), Sanchez (unlikely), Wallin (possible), Helenius (possible), Hughie (possible).

I do like how you have given the options some thought.
I just don't like ANY of the options

I think the best thing he could do for a promotional point of view is face an unbeaten guy but the top guys come with risks that AJ probably doesn't need. AJ is known to have trained a lot with Kabayel so I wonder if that would be easy to arrange? Trevor Bryan could be an easy target and easy sell. But i'd personally like to see him pummel the ghost of Ortiz.

[KiwiRider]

Personally, if he isn't offered an interim belt on the line, I think he'll take a fringe top 15 guy. Joyce/Parker seems likely while Dubois is reportedly looking to face Bryan. After Fury and Whyte, you then have Wilder (unlikely), Ruiz 3 (unlikely), Chisora (possible), Hunter (possible), Ortiz (possible), Sanchez (unlikely), Wallin (possible), Helenius (possible), Hughie (possible).

I do like how you have given the options some thought.
I just don't like ANY of the options

I think the best thing he could do for a promotional point of view is face an unbeaten guy but the top guys come with risks that AJ probably doesn't need. AJ is known to have trained a lot with Kabayel so I wonder if that would be easy to arrange? Trevor Bryan could be an easy target and easy sell. But i'd personally like to see him pummel the ghost of Ortiz.

Ortiz was struggling with prince Charles "I walk this earth like a new born deer" Martin
Joshua would blast through Ortiz in two rounds, and you want to Pay To View that?
Come on Josh, you sick bastard!
I really thought you were above pensioner bashing

[jimb0d]

Should fight Hughie, might persuade Tyson to hang around and 'get revenge' if he wins.

[joshj909]

I do like how you have given the options some thought.
I just don't like ANY of the options

I think the best thing he could do for a promotional point of view is face an unbeaten guy but the top guys come with risks that AJ probably doesn't need. AJ is known to have trained a lot with Kabayel so I wonder if that would be easy to arrange? Trevor Bryan could be an easy target and easy sell. But i'd personally like to see him pummel the ghost of Ortiz.

Ortiz was struggling with prince Charles "I walk this earth like a new born deer" Martin
Joshua would blast through Ortiz in two rounds, and you want to Pay To View that?
Come on Josh, you sick bastard!
I really thought you were above pensioner bashing

Haha. I wouldn't pay but I'd watch

[Blueprint]

Eddie was on the MMA hour, sounds like they are open to having an interim fight while they wait for Usyk.

[forcefraser]

No way the Usyk fight happens next.

Joshua will fight someone like Hellenius.

[punchers chance]

Any interim opponent will certainly not be someone with ambition like Joyce or Dubois.
They will be looking for someone who hasn't got much power or any future. Joshua needs building back up.

[forcefraser]

Any interim opponent will certainly not be someone with ambition like Joyce or Dubois.
They will be looking for someone who hasn't got much power or any future. Joshua needs building back up.

Since the first Ruiz fight Joshua has been fighting scared. I can't see him ever getting his mojo back.

Fury would mess him up

[Ruthless-RKO]

Eddie was on the MMA hour, sounds like they are open to having an interim fight while they wait for Usyk.

I certainly think AJ should at least fight someone.

Make money and keep busy.

[stujones]

If any of the sanctioning bodies strip Usyk or if Eddie pressures it - then that will not look good.

I see Joshua vs Wallin - a kind of "good gesture" for the Whyte debacle but also a relatively low risk opponent to come back against - Wallin aint a monster puncher - but it should not be for any "interim" world championship (unless the WBC in their madness make it for their interim strap). I cannot see it being a domestic opponent as they will be seen as a "level down" and seen as an obvious tune up. At least Eddie has the angle that Wallin arguably won more rounds vs Fury than Wilder did in his 23 last rounds.

[margaret thatcher]

If any of the sanctioning bodies strip Usyk or if Eddie pressures it - then that will not look good.

I see Joshua vs Wallin - a kind of "good gesture" for the Whyte debacle but also a relatively low risk opponent to come back against - Wallin aint a monster puncher - but it should not be for any "interim" world championship (unless the WBC in their madness make it for their interim strap). I cannot see it being a domestic opponent as they will be seen as a "level down" and seen as an obvious tune up. At least Eddie has the angle that Wallin arguably won more rounds vs Fury than Wilder did in his 23 last rounds.

great shout on wallin, ticks a lot of the boxes there. southpaw, somewhat similar style to usyk, plus the perception of righting a wrong by giving him another opportunity after the whyte situation.. a chance to one up fury''s performance vs wallin too