Oleksandr Usyk’s cocky remark as Anthony Joshua rematch is scheduled

The unbeaten Usyk handily defeated Joshua in their fight on Saturday night, but it appears that the Brit will exercise his immediate rematch clause to get another shot at the world heavyweight titles

Oleksandr Usyk joked to his promoter that he was delighted to get a chance to beat Anthony Joshua for a second time when the pair meet in their contractually obligated rematch next year.

The Ukrainian made the cocky statement during a meeting with his promotional partner Alex Krassyuk, who relayed the message to the media yesterday.

Usyk comfortably outboxed Joshua in front of 63,000 of the Brit’s hometown fans at Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Saturday night to become just the third ever cruiserweight champion to win a major title at heavyweight.

He follows in the footsteps of David Haye and Evander Holyfield, the latter of whom was an undisputed champion at cruiserweight like Usyk.

“The rematch was spelled out in our contract,” Krassyuk said when asked about Joshua exercising the clause.

“When we discussed it, he was not upset, but, on the contrary, was delighted.

“He said, ‘Cool, I will beat Anthony twice’.”

The rematch is expected to take place next year, with Joshua now a considerable underdog after Usyk’s performance over the weekend.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn is already working to make the second fight happen, with Krassyuk saying that there was never even discussions around another fight.

Bob Arum has offered a deal for Joshua to step aside so that Tyson Fury and Usyk can fight to unify the heavyweight division.

But that hinges on Fury defeating Deontay Wilder in their trilogy next month, which is far from a foregone conclusion despite Fury’s dominant win in their last fight.

“According to my understanding he [Joshua] has already activated the rematch clause,” Krassyuk told Boxing Social.

“Because the first thing he said when he came in the ring to the corner was ‘We will see you in the rematch’.

“He didn’t even consider it as a possibility, it was just a decision already and I heard that Hearn and AJ himself were discussing the rematch not just as fact.

“They were also discussing the time, and what Joshua has to do to win so I think it will happen and only some extraordinary circumstances will change it.

Who do you believe will become undisputed champion first, Joshua, Usyk, Fury or Wilder? Let us know in the comments section!

“But as of right now, the rematch will happen.”

Krassyuk also is of the belief that Wilder will be able to avenge his recent loss to Fury, thus completely shifting the landscape of the heavyweight division.

A Wilder win could create another host of problems in a division that was scheduled to be unified in August before Fury was ordered by a US court to fight Wilder for a third time.

“As of now we are getting ready mentally for the rematch,” Krassyuk continued.

“And I also believe that Tyson Fury will get knocked out by Wilder so won’t play any part. That is my hunch.”

Fury’s bout with Wilder takes place on Saturday, October 9 in Las Vegas, while Joshua and Usyk will likely rematch in the early part of next year in the UK.