Boxing news - WBO orders Anthony Joshua to defend heavyweight title against Oleksandr Usyk
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 23/05/2021 at 10:35 GMT
Anthony Joshua has been ordered to fight Oleksandr Usyk while Tyson Fury is set to take on Deontay Wilder after the Gypsy King was ordered by an American arbitrator on Monday to fight the Bronze Bomber for a third time before September 15. The news leaves the highly-anticipated bout between Fury and Joshua in doubt.
Anthony Joshua
Image credit: Getty Images
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) on Saturday ordered Anthony Joshua to defend his heavyweight title against mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk after the Briton's bout with domestic rival Tyson Fury was thrown into doubt.
Joshua, who also holds the IBF and WBA titles, was set to face Tyson Fury - who holds the WBC belt - on August 14 in Saudi Arabia.
The WBO said it had sent a letter to Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn on Wednesday to "show cause" within 48 hours why the WBO should not order a fight with Usyk, asking for confirmation of the Joshua-Fury bout.
Hearn asked the WBO for an extension on Friday, but the request was denied.
Joshua and Ukrainian Usyk have until May 31 to reach an agreement for the fight, the WBO said or purse bids will be called, opening the process to any promoter who wants to bid for the bout.
If the fight goes to a purse bid, Joshua would receive 80% of the bid, while former undisputed world cruiserweight champion Usyk would get 20%.
"Such calculation is based upon the average purse of each fighter's last three bouts," the WBO said, adding that the minimum bid would be $1 million.
Fury's fight with Wilder has been confirmed for July 24.
"He's getting seriously smashed to bits," Fury said on Twitter. "I'll give him another shoulder injury, another bicep injury, another leg injury.
"One round, you're going. I have got your soul, your mojo, everything. I own you."
Additional reporting from Reuters.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement