WBA, WBO, IBO and IBF champion Oleksandr Usyk has disclosed that he is ready to assist Anthony Joshua in an all-British heavyweight fight with Tyson Fury. Usyk defeated Joshua in their rematch by split decision, but Fury offered to fight the former two-time world champion placing his WBC title on the line.
Oleksandr Usyk has sensationally offered to help Anthony
Joshua ahead of his much-anticipated heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury by
joining his camp.
The Ukrainian, who has twice beaten Joshua most recently via
a split decision in Saudia Arabia, was expected to fight Fury but has had to
rule out any such fight until 2023 due to injury.
Instead, the WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion of the
world Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs), is keen to help his most recent opponent in his next
fight.
If he needs my help, I will go to his camp and help him. He
is not 40 years old, he is 33, so he should keep working – Anthony, don't
stop,' Usyk told Sky Sports via Boxing Scene.
'I understand that he wanted to win against me, but Anthony
can't give up. He must go forward.'
Usyk beat Joshua via unanimous decision to capture the
heavyweight crowns at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in September, 2021.
The 35-year-old then convincingly conquered Joshua in
August, weathering a ninth-round onslaught to close the show in the 10th, 11th,
and 12th rounds.
Usyk was awarded a split decision win despite out landing
Joshua 170 to 124 in the rematch in Saudia Arabia.
Joshua was clearly frustrated by the second beating and had
a bizarre post-fight 'meltdown' in the center of the ring during Usyk's
celebrations.
Usyk, however, described Joshua's outcry as 'a mistake', by
saying: 'It's wrong to think that he had stolen my moment.
'He said what he wanted. Thank God the victory was mine.
Anthony cannot be judged by what he did – he is a top-level athlete and a good
person. He made a mistake.
'I'm sure he did it with no anger. He was disappointed with
his defeat and he was sad.'
Fury revealed this week that his written offer to Joshua is
a 60/40 purse split deal for a straight shot at his WBC heavyweight world title
this year.
WBC heavyweight champion Fury handed Joshua a shock world
title lifeline on Monday, challenging him to a December 'Battle of Britain'.
Joshua has since publicly accepted the offer, which prompted
his promoter Eddie Hearn to speak to Fury's representative Frank Warren, and
both have had their say on arranging the fight.
Fury took to Twitter after plenty of comments to confirm his
offer of a 60/40 split purse, by saying: 'I'm being bombarded with messages of
how much am I going to pay AJ.
'Everyone is saying 80/20, 70/30, 75/25, the actual answer
is I've offered him 60/40. 40 per cent of this amazing fight because I want
this fight to happen.
'He doesn't have any excuses now not to take it, he can't
say I've lowballed him by offering him 20 or 30 per cent.
'I've offered the people 40 per cent, take it or leave it,
let us know.'
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