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Boxing

Who should Anthony Joshua face if he steps aside for Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk?

Who should Anthony Joshua face if he steps aside for Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk?DAZN
The DAZN Boxing Show discussed the chaos surrounding the the heavyweight division.

The heavyweight division is currently the talk of the boxing world.

From delayed purse bids to a potential deal for an undisputed world heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, the picture is still none the clearer.

Now reports have circulated that Anthony Joshua, who was set to face Usyk in a rematch in April, has been offered a step aside fee worth £15m to allow Fury vs. Usyk to happen.

Despite the former world champion coming out and saying the rumours are false, there are some who believe Joshua should allow an undisputed title fight to take place.

Speaking on the latest episode of The DAZN Boxing Show, former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew looked at both sides of the coin when it comes to Joshua stepping aside. 

"If it was me personally, £15m to sit and watch a fight is a lot of money. I would definitely be thinking about it," Bellew said.

"On the other hand, he’s going to want revenge, but it comes at a cost. AJ is a very clever individual with a lot of good advisers around him and the best promoter in the game behind him. He’s got a lot of things to weigh up.

"His training situation is also a difficult one, that’s got to be announced and we’ll see what happens there.

"I’m stuck to be honest; I can’t give an opinion for the man. What I do like is that he owns every decision he makes.

"I’m not going to lie, £15m to watch the fight, I’d just watch the fight."

If Joshua does indeed accept a step aside fee, who could he face in the meantime in order to keep active before potentially facing the winner of Fury vs. Usyk?

For Bellew, a second fight with Dillian Whyte seems like the obvious option. Whyte is currently the mandatory for Fury's WBC title, however, a legal case and disputes over the purse split have been a stumbling block in negotiations.

"It’s obvious. Suits both guys, huge risk, but big reward to the winner because the money is there. He’s already got Usyk contracted, that’s a no-lose situation for him."

Joshua and Whyte went head-to-head in a brutal contest seven years ago which saw Joshua triumph with a seventh round stoppage.

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