Oleksandr Usyk has been linked to a host of heavyweight rivals but the unified heavyweight world champion is now poised to fight an opponent that has not been mentioned prior.
Oleksandr Usyk has been linked to a showdown with Deontay Wilder in recent weeks but it seems as though the Ukrainian will instead face an alternate heavyweight rival.
Many fans felt as though Usyk would retire after he became a two-time undisputed heavyweight world champion by knocking out Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium.
However, the pound-for-pound superstar instead revealed plans to continue to fight, before vacating his WBO world title in order to allow him to personally select his next opponent.
That belt was then awarded to WBO Interim titleholder Fabio Wardley, whilst Usyk shockingly called for a scrap with Deontay Wilder, despite the fact that ‘The Bronze Bomber’ has lost four of his last six contests.
Then, things took another turn, as rumours that Wilder would instead take on Derek Chisora in London this April began to pick up momentum, with a press conference for that fight understood to be taking place next week.
Speaking ahead of that announcement, Chisora had an interview with talkSPORT, where he let slip that he expects Usyk to face Mexican-American heavyweight Andy Ruiz Jr. in Las Vegas.
“Listen, if the fight with Deontay happens and the winner will fight Usyk, that’ll be amazing. And right now I’m hearing Usyk is fighting [Andy Ruiz] in Vegas. That’s what I’m hearing right now.”
Ruiz has only fought thrice since losing the unified heavyweight titles in his 2019 rematch with Anthony Joshua and the Californian has not registered a victory since 2022.
However, with Usyk attempting to defeat every household-name heavyweight of this generation, Andy Ruiz remains as one name to tick off the list, fabled for his legendary upset win in his initial encounter with ‘AJ’.
Should it take place, this will be Oleksandr Usyk’s first fight in the United States since his heavyweight debut against Chazz Witherspoon back in 2019 and could act as a perfect opportunity to build hype for a clash with Wilder later in the year.
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