Anthony Joshua: Oleksandr Usyk fight could be next - Mega-fight in pipeline, Eddie Hearn
EDDIE HEARN has revealed Anthony Joshua’s next fight after his showdown with Jarrell Miller could be against Oleksandr Usyk.
Anthony Joshua will defend his WBA (Super), WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight titles against the American at Madison Square Garden on June 1.
Many expect the Brit to breeze past ‘Big Baby’, so much so they’re already thinking about his next opponent.
A showdown with Usyk has been mooted for several months and moved a step closer to coming fruition this week when the Ukrainian vacated the WBA (Super) cruiserweight title and officially moved up to the heavyweight division.
The prospect of Joshua vs Usyk has left boxing fans drooling with anticipation.
And should a unification bout with WBC champion Deontay Wilder not be a possibility, Hearn believes we could see the pair throw down with one another sooner than expected.
He told Sky Sports: “Well I think it’s either next or the one after.
“I think now that he vacates that WBA belt as super champion, he will move to the mandatory position for Anthony Joshua. That will be called for September or October.
“Unless there’s a big fight for ‘AJ’, like an undisputed fight with Wilder, it could be Usyk next.
Unless there’s a big fight for ‘AJ’, like an undisputed fight with Wilder, it could be Usyk next
“Certainly by spring 2020, ‘AJ’ will be fighting Usyk.”
Hearn himself is excited by the prospect of Joshua vs Usyk but is refusing to look past the unbeaten Miller.
He said: “First of all, he’s got to beat Jarrell Miller at Madison Square Garden.
“All these people talking about these others fights, just focus on that.
“But certainly Anthony Joshua versus Oleksandr Usyk, two Olympic gold medallists, it is a fascinating fight. And just another great fight that can be made in this division.”
Usyk is set to make his heavyweight bow against the durable Carlos Takam in May, though a date for their fight has not yet been set.
Hearn is looking forward to the match-up, which he believes will go a long way to showing where Usyk stands in the heavyweight division.
“I think it’s a great fight for him,” he said. “He’s a big heavyweight, Takam.
"He’s strong and I think it’s going to tell us a lot about Usyk’s position in the heavyweight division.
“We’re working on a date, finalising it. It was going to be May 18, but Wilder now goes on that day. So May 17 or May 25 are two dates in question.
“That will be decided over the weekend. And he’ll be good to go in the heavyweight division.
“And joining a wonderful star cast in, obviously, the most pivotal division in boxing.”