Oleksandr Usyk rules out April clash with Anthony Joshua and calls rumours they’ll fight ‘fake’
There was rumours the Ukrainian could meet AJ next year, however, the undisputed cruiserweight king has rubbished such talk
OLEKSANDR USYK has distanced himself from a fight against unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua after claims he was about to step up for the clash.
Unified cruiserweight world champion Usyk, 31, is signed to DAZN and promoter Eddie Hearn, with the Ukrainian last seen defeating Tony Bellew, 36, after eight rounds last month.
Usyk and Hearn have made it clear a move up to heavyweight will be a plan for the future, which brought speculation that a fight with Joshua, 30, could be imminent.
Hearn’s rival promoter Frank Warren even claimed Joshua would fight Usyk on April 13 next year, instead of Dillian Whyte, Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury.
Warren said: “I am now hearing Joshua’s next opponent for April 13 is not going to be Dillian Whyte and will be Oleksandr Usyk, let them get on with it.
“I know why they want to fight Usyk, he is a smaller guy and not much of a puncher."
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However, speaking to, the Ukrainian revealed the speculation of a fight against Joshua was "fake".
When asked what his immediate plans were, Usyk said: “I don’t know.
“Now it’s a relax, no boxing, now it’s a relax, my family - for now I just want to relax and do nothing.”
Usyk was in attendance to watch his countrymen Oleksandr Gvozdyk defeat Adonis Stevenson for the WBC light-heavyweight title.
On the same night Fury 30, challenged for the WBC heavyweight crown against Wilder, 33.
And Usyk claimed Fury should have been awarded the decision victory, as he also praised the Gypsy King’s amazing recovery after being dropped in the final round.
He insisted: “Fury win, eight rounds - maybe Wilder, three-four maximum rounds.
“Fury is a very good guy, Wilder killed Fury, (after 12th round knockdown) - Fury 1-2-3, okay, whoops - stand up.”