Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter believes that a fight with Anthony Joshua can be announced imminently.
Joshua had been expected to fight WBC champion Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia in August but a late announcement confirmed that Deontay Wilder had won his arbitration case against Fury to force a trilogy fight.
As the fallout from the dispute between Fury and Joshua’s respective teams continues, the WBO decreed that Joshua had no reason to delay fighting his mandatory challenger any longer. As such, the IBF, WBA and WBO champion will likely meet the Ukrainian next month or August, with other rivals such as Dillian Whyte and Andy Ruiz Jr missing out.
“We are in the middle of negotiations now and things look optimistic,” Usyk's promoter Alexander Krassyuk said to Sky Sports.
“As long as I am informed there are no visible obstacles to the deal not to take place, hopefully, it will be completed within the rendered timing.”
Joshua could now fight at Wembley this summer, and with the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions over the coming weeks in Britain, there could be a healthy attendance level.