Joshua ordered to fight Usyk as Fury signs Wilder deal

ANTHONY Joshua has been ordered to defend his World Boxing Organisation heavyweight title against mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk after the collapse of his bout with Briton Tyson Fury.

Nigerian-born Briton Joshua, who also holds the Internationsl Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association belts, had agreed to face World Boxing Council champion Fury in Saudi Arabia.

But an arbitration hearing ruled Fury must first face Deontay Wilder.

Joshua’s promoter had been given 48 hours to show why a fight with Usyk should not be mandated.

Eddie Hearn requested an extension until Monday to the “show cause” notice in order to “discuss the subject matter and other related affairs” with Joshua, but Usyk’s team objected.

The WBO sided with the Ukrainian former undisputed world cruiserweight champion, who had previously agreed to step aside to allow the Joshua-Fury super fight to go ahead, and said in a statement on its website: “The extension request is hereby denied.”

As a result, the two fighters and their teams have until 31 May to reach an agreement for a fight or purse bids will be called.

Meanwhile, WBC world heavyweight champion Fury has signed his contract to face Deontay Wilder on 24 July.
Fury, 32, looked set to finalise a fight for all four world titles against Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia.

But the all-British affair fell through when Wilder’s team won an arbitration hearing stating the American had a right to a third fight with Fury.
Fury attended Josh Taylor’s win over Jose Ramirez in Las Vegas on Saturday, where he signed his fight contract.

“He’s getting seriously smashed to bits,” Fury said. “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.”

Fury’s deal arrives less than seven days since he appeared on social media stating he had agreed to face Joshua in August.

But 24 hours after giving the Joshua showdown the green light, Fury’s plans were de-railed by Wilder’s arbitration success.

Wilder, 35, refused to take any money in order to step aside and let Fury pursue the Joshua fight, where all four world heavyweight titles would have been on the line.

Fury beat Wilder to end his reign as WBC champion in Las Vegas in February 2020, 14 months after the pair drew in Los Angeles.

A venue has not yet been formally announced for their third contest but Fury’s team have said Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas was already reserved for the fight date.

The stadium, completed in 2020, holds 65,000 and is home to the Las Vegas Raiders NFL franchise.

BBC Sport