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WBC requires Joshua to fight the winner of Fury vs Usyk match
According According to WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, Anthony Joshua will be up against the winner of the Oleksandr Usyk versus Tyson Fury fight.
Fury and Usyk will battle for all the titles on May 18 in Saudi Arabia and later in the year for a rematch.
While negotiations for the fight have been ongoing, Joshua (28-3, 25KOs) has been patiently waiting for his opportunity. The British-Nigerian had defeated former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou via second-round knockout, and the reward for winning was mentioned as facing one of the top two in the division.
According to Sulaiman, nothing will stop Joshua from fighting Usyk or Fury.
“The WBC was given a sanction request to fight for the undisputed title. The WBC accepted that request, and we agreed to the rematch they have asked,” Sulaiman said as quoted by Sports Illustrated.
“However, if it is not related to contracts or promotions, we would absolutely accept the winner to fight Joshua. The WBC has been very attentive to this issue. So, we have completely cleared the way for the undisputed title, for a rematch, and for another fight at that level. The WBC's current position is very open to supporting the undisputed champion in taking on the fights that the fans want to see.”
Following Ngannou’s remarkable boxing debut against Fury, Joshua decisively knocked down the MMA star three times to once again make a statement about returning to the top of the heavyweight division.
The former unified heavyweight champion, who lost his titles to Usyk, is still working to reclaim them. This was his third consecutive victory by stoppage.
“It was incredible. He looked like a world champion – tremendous, powerful, precise, and he made a statement. I am very proud and happy for him,” Sulaiman said.
“That is how the world is, they judge you by your last performance and now he is a dominant force and everyone is saying he is the best heavyweight in the world, last year they were saying he was finished. Now, everyone is saying Fury is all washed up but we will see on May 18,” he added.
Meanwhile, Joshua says he will not wait for the result of Fury vs Usyk and is already planning to return in the summer.
