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FAKE BRUISE

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 owns the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF cruiserweight world titles
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Usyk owns the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF cruiserweight world titlesCredit: PA:Press Association
 Joshua is a WBC title away from becoming unified heavyweight champion
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Joshua is a WBC title away from becoming unified heavyweight championCredit: REUTERS

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."

 Usyk defended his world titles against Bellew in November
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Usyk defended his world titles against Bellew in NovemberCredit: PA:Press Association
 Usyk KO’d Bellew in round eight with a brutal left-hook
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Usyk KO’d Bellew in round eight with a brutal left-hookCredit: Getty Images - Getty
 It was the first time Usyk defended all his world titles
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It was the first time Usyk defended all his world titlesCredit: Reuters

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.

 Joshua is yet to have a confirmed his opponent for the April bout
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Joshua is yet to have a confirmed his opponent for the April boutCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
 Usyk claims he is not thinking about boxing as he plans to rest
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Usyk claims he is not thinking about boxing as he plans to restCredit: Mark Robinson

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.”

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