Oleksandr Usyk Opens Door To Anthony Joshua For Trilogy Fight
Unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk has said he welcomes a trilogy bout with Anthony Joshua if his former opponent defeats Daniel Dubois in September.
Joshua (28-3-0 25 KO) will aim to become a three-time heavyweight champion on September 21 when he faces IBF title holder Dubois (21-2-0 19 KO) at Wembley Stadium in London, England.
Dubois won the IBF’s interim belt in June by stopping Filip Hrgovic in Saudi Arabia, before getting elevated to full champion when Usyk vacated the title ahead of his rematch with Tyson Fury in December.
Three months ago, Usyk famously defeated then-WBC champion Fury via split decision in an all-time classic to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era. With a rematch clause in their contracts, the Gypsy King ordered the second bout, meaning Usyk could not fulfill his IBF mandatory duties against Dubois, who as a result now holds the title.
‘I Have No Right To Deny A.J A Trilogy’
It opens the possibility of another undisputed bout in the near future. Should Joshua defeat Dubois in September, as he is favored to do, and Usyk repeats his win over Fury, then the four belts will be held by A.J (IBF) and the Ukrainian (WBC, WBA, WBO).
A bout for all the belts would then represent the third fight between the pair. Usyk delivered the most one-sided defeat of Joshua’s career in their first bout in September 2021 when he bamboozled the champion to take the IBF, WBA, and WBO titles.
Their immediate rematch 11 months later was a closer contest and was decided on a split decision, but Usyk was still the deserved winner – an outcome Joshua infamously did not take well by throwing the belts out of the ring and ranting on the microphone.
“I don’t particularly want any rematches,” Usyk told the Mail. “But when we beat Tyson Fury for the second time and when Anthony Joshua beats Daniel Dubois [at Wembley Stadium], of course they will want to do a third fight.
“From my point of view, I have no right to deny Anthony 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 it happens with God’s help, then I am ready for a third fight with Anthony.”
Usyk Strives For Clean Olympic Boxing
Since his successive defeats to Usyk, Joshua has impressed to return to the heavyweight division’s title picture. He’s claimed four straight wins, including the last three by knockout, and looks a more complete and confident fighter.
While being long-term respectful rivals, Usyk and Joshua share a common bond by being Olympic champions, with both winning gold at London 2012 (Usyk at heavyweight, Joshua at super-heavyweight).
Usyk has been a regular presence at the Paris Games boxing events, but the sport’s Olympic future is in serious doubt due to the lack of an IOC-approved governing body. The International Boxing Association had been amateur boxing’s long-term custodians, but the IBA has been banned from being in control of its Olympic program over concerns about ethics and governance.
“Boxing must change – the number of corruption schemes in boxing should decrease. World amateur boxing,” Usyk said. “The Ready To Fight team will make every effort to make boxing in L.A [at the 2028 Olympics]. The maximum task of mine is to make Olympic boxing clean. My team has a recipe for this. If the Olympic Committee wants to cooperate, we will get involved to help them. Our task is only this. We work for boxing.”
