Excluding Tyson Fury Rematch, 3 Potential Opponents Oleksandr Usyk Can Fight Next

Oleksandr Usyk stood tall when he went blow-for-blow with Tyson Fury on May 18 and became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in almost 25 years. The fight had all the ingredients: exciting action, a controversial referee call, and an opinion dividing judges’ decision. This sets the stage for an electric rematch. But what if ‘The Gypsy King’ decides against it? Where does it leave the newly crowned undisputed champion?

Usyk doesn’t shy away from challenges and would be actively fighting in the division even if a rematch with Fury doesn’t materialize. The biggest name in the division, apart from the two, is Anthony Joshua. But as the Ukrainian boxer is 2-0 up on him, a trilogy wouldn’t make sense either for fans or for the promoters. The name that pops up next for Usyk is Joseph Parker, who was written off two years ago. But then things changed.

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Joseph Parker: The fight that makes sense

Joseph Parker has surged in the rankings and pulled off upsets when most had believed his career at the top was over. The New Zealander reinvented himself and is now victorious in 5 fights since dropping the fight to Joe Joyce. The world took note of him when he defeated Deontay Wilder and proved it wasn’t a fluke when he again salvaged a win over the Chinese giant, Zhilei Zhang.

The 32-year-old is a fighter similar to the champion. He relies on swift moments and a quick pair of hands to score a win. His superior speed and mobility set him apart from the rest. A fight with Usyk will be a style matchup, as both hold similar weapons in their arsenal. Besides, Parker also holds the WBO interim title, which puts him in a better position than anyone else on the list. There is also a revenge angle to their supposed fight.

Parker is Fury’s friend and training partner. Many would expect him to exact revenge for Fury’s defeat. It might also help the fight do well on the business front. But the issue is that Parker has a rematch clause with Zhang. If the Chinese boxer decides to reclaim his interim strap, then it might take a long time before he could be scheduled to fight Usyk. In such a case, Usyk doesn’t have to look beyond a fighter, whom he witnessed live on May 18, as the latter fought on the Usyk vs. Fury undercard.

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Agit Kabayel: The WBC conundrum

Agit Kabayel turned in the performance of his life when he pulled off an upset against Frank Sanchez. The German boxer was relentless in his approach and never allowed Sanchez to fight on the front foot, constantly putting on pressure. Kabayel twice floored the Cuban boxer and exhibited his power punching. Not only did he secure an upset, but he also did it in a manner that must have garnered eyeballs, especially Usyk’s.

Notably, Kabayel vs. Sanchez was the WBC heavyweight eliminator, with the opportunity to challenge the winner of Usyk vs. Fury next. It so happened that Usyk now holds the WBC gold, and with ‘AJ’ out of the frame, Kabayel just needs some things to go in his favor, and the 31-year-old will have his first world title shot.

Interestingly, Kabayel, at 25-0, boasts an unblemished record, and Usyk might look to end another undefeated streak. The probable fight will have fireworks and exciting action on display as Kabayel has a fan-friendly, power-punching style, which stands in contrast to Usyk’s technical mastery. The fans will be delighted if the mouthwatering fight gets scheduled. But the question looms large. Will a WBC title defense fancy him when he has another opportunity to reclaim his undisputed throne?

Keeping the undisputed crown intact: Filip Hrgovic vs. Daniel Dubois winner

The IBF might be soon stripped off the Simferopol native if he fails to meet the IBF mandatory in the boxing ring. With a Fury rematch, the decision would have to come promptly. Now, Usyk stands a chance to defend the IBF strap and his undisputed title if he goes against the victor of Filip Hrgovic vs. Daniel Dubois, which is slated for June 1, hardly a week and a half away.

There is confusion about whether the IBF will remove Usyk as the champion and whether the championship will be on the line for the June encounter between Hrgovic and Dubois. While Hrgovic is the current #1 IBF heavyweight contender and a future star, Usyk shares a history with Dubois. The 22-0 record holder went toe-to-toe against Dubois last August in a controversial fight, as he survived a low blow but eventually won the bout with a 9th-round KO. Meanwhile, Dubois will have another chance to grab a win, which he believed he was robbed of last time.

Who should Oleksandr Usyk fight if the rematch with Tyson Fury doesn’t go as planned? Let us know in the comments below.