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Boxing: WBO puts world champion Joshua under pressure

2019-12-12T13:35:08.726Z


Will Anthony Joshua avoid a fight against Oleksandr Usyk? That seems to be feared by the boxing association WBO. So he obviously set a time limit for the world champion.



Just now he has regained his title, now there is a dispute: Boxing heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is scheduled to compete against the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, and within 180 days. The World Association WBO has called for ESPN information. On its website ESPN quotes from an email traffic between the WBO and Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn, who is the portal.

For Joshua, that's bad news, he would probably prefer to compete against another boxer: Kubrat Pulew.

Joshua was jr on Saturday by his victory over Andy Ruiz. for the second time world champion after version of the IBF, WBA and WBO. According to regulations, he would have to complete two mandatory defenses next: at the WBO against Usyk, at the IBF against Pulew. Because the Ukrainian Usyk would be the more difficult task for the 30-year-old, he seems to want to circumvent this initially.

Oliver Hardt / Getty Images

Kubrat Pulew: The more capable opponent

Joshua's promoter Hearn had announced that Joshua would first box against Pulew. That evidently called the WBO including a 180-day period on the plan. The Joshua side should now communicate with Usyk on a fight. Whether that happens is open.

Promoter Hearn also has Usyk under contract. He might try to avoid the fight by paying a so-called "Step Aside Fairy". This is a kind of compensation payment Usyk would receive for deferring the fight he is entitled to. It remains possible, however, that the WBO Joshua knows the world title but he should not compete against Usyk.

The background is the question of how good Joshua really is. "The heavyweight is his, he's just the best," Hearn had said after the win over Ruiz. But that is questionable. In a fight against the weaker to be estimated Pulew Joshua clear favorite, the outcome against the former Cruiserweight World Champion Usyk would be open. And then there are the two biggest heavyweights besides Joshua: WBC world champion Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury.

Wilder and Fury fought one another a year ago and drew in a draw. In February it comes to the rematch, the winner would be the logical opponent for Joshua, against both he should have it very hard. But before that he will have to face Usyk - if his promoter can not avoid the fight.

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2019-12-12

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