Anthony Joshua Positioned to Receive $20 Million Step Aside Check

Former champion Anthony Joshua lost his heavyweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021, suffering the second professional loss of his career in his hometown, London. However, he can still influence the entire title picture and seems to do just the same.

While he can challenge Usyk and re-match him for the lost belts, AJ may step aside and let Oleksandr Usyk compete against WBC champion Tyson Fury in an undisputed title fight. Initially, Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua was looked upon as the perfect undisputed heavyweight clash of this generation.

Well, Usyk has now slid into the tale and has shattered those plans to an extent. That said, Gareth A. Davis dropped the shocking news of AJ considering the step aside deal. Per reports of Behind The Gloves, Anthony Joshua can receive an amount of $20 million and allow Oleksandr Usyk to face Tyson Fury.

Usyk currently holds the WBA, WBO, and IBF titles, with Tyson Fury donning the WBC strap. A winner between them shall hold all four world titles. And AJ can directly get a shot at the undisputed title fight. This appears to be the existing plan on how the heavyweight division can function ahead.

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Meanwhile, this is yet not an official declaration. Akin to AJ, several other contenders like Joe Joyce and Dillian Whyte are also lurking over the championship scene. They can evaluate their position and change the ongoing plans at any given point. But Usyk vs Fury is already in the works and looks viable to happen at this stage.

Frank Warren has already eyed Oleksandr Usyk instead of Anthony Joshua for Tyson Fury

The heavyweight division has reflected several fantasy fights that can get materialized. But Fury’s UK promoter, Frank Warren, seems to have chosen Usyk out of all. Before the reports of Joshua’s step aside deal came out, Warren had already hinted at hosting the undisputed title fight.

In an exclusive media interaction, he said, “It’s a saga but if we can keep things between us, we can get something over the line one way or another.”

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“We are still working on things but I believe over the weekend we will make some progress and then have something to announce”

“Everybody in boxing wants to see the undisputed fight between Tyson and Usyk, I want to see it just as a fan. So that is the fight we are trying to make.”

With all these preparations on board, Fury vs Usyk makes sense right now. Besides, Joshua can also bag a big paycheck for just stepping aside. This easy money can urge him to remain sidelined for a few more months and then return to fight for the undisputed world heavyweight straps.

Do you think Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk will happen?