Anthony Joshua Gets Ultimatum To Defend Title

By Daily Sports on December 13, 2019

Anthony Joshua has officially been ordered by the World Boxing Organisation to defend his WBO title against mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk.

The British boxer won his rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr last weekend after sweeping the scorecard with a unanimous 118-110, 118-110, 110-109 verdict to reclaim the WBA, IBF and WBO belts that he lost to the Mexican in New York.

But following his emphatic victory in Saudi Arabia, the WBO president has stated that Joshua must take on Ukranian Usyk within 180 days of Saturday’s win.

The WBO confirmed: “The WBO World Championship Committee hereby orders the parties herein commencement of negotiations for the above-mentioned WBO heavyweight mandatory championship contest.

“Please be advised that the parties have 30 days upon receipt of this letter to reach an agreement.

“If an accord is not reached within the time frame set forth herein, a purse bid will be ordered pursuant with the WBO regulations of world championship contests.”

That means that Joshua will now have to face the prospect of defending his WBO title before June 4th.

If he does not agree to meet the Ukrainian former cruiserweight king before January 10, he will be forced to vacate his belt, dealing a setback to his hopes of adding the WBC crown. 

If Joshua does vacate his belt, Usyk could face either Dereck Chisora or Joseph Parker for the strap, which would divide the belts further across the division.

The Ukranian has conquered the cruiserweight division and made his long-awaited step up in weight in October when he stopped Chazz Witherspoon in the seventh round.

While the WBO president has pushed Joshua into fighting Usyk before early June, the British boxer’s promoter Eddie Hearn didn’t say as to what fight would next be on the cards for his fighter.

He said: “The future plans are celebrate and celebrate hard, Joshua has won Olympic gold for great Britain and tonight in Saudi he became two time heavyweight champion of the world.

“Tonight he is the guvnor of the division, give him the respect he deserves.”

Joshua himself however did declare his interest in a third deciding bout between himself and Ruiz shortly after becoming a two-time World Heavyweight Champion.

“If you heard – we’re gonna do a third,” Joshua said in his post-match interview.

On the matter, Ruiz also added: “I don’t want to give excuses. If we do the third I’ll be in the best shape of my life.

“I thought I was going to come on stronger but next fight I’ll get prepared and look at my team.” (Daily Mail UK)

•PHOTO: World boxing heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 13, 2019


 

You may also like...
Choice of Aubameyang as 2015 African Player of...

Jamal Woods fight versus 53 YEAR-OLD ex-WBC champ...

Ronaldo already has the Ballon d’Or at home...

Fabregas joins Monaco from Chelsea on three-and-a-half-year deal...

Sampdoria President Resigns After Arrest

Nikyu blames stage fright for loss

 

Latest News Nigeria beat Cameroon to reach IHF final 27 schools for Doregos Basketball Championship Super Falcons to play France’s Les Bleues in friendly SWAN suspends ban on coverage of Anambra FA activities Joshua among boxing’s top three earners in 2024 Oshoala makes history with Bay FC Nnamani hails team over IHF bright start Flamingos lift U-17 W’Cup Fair Play Trophy Rangers Intl, SWAN partner on sports collaboration in SE LAGOS SWAN CELEBRATES AIG ZONE 2 ON HIS BIRTHDAY AND 30 DAYS IN OFFICE Traders Cup: Upholstery Soccer Team Secured 2nd Win To Advance To Round Two Lagos SWAN Celebrates Oba Akiolu, Iyaloja General, AIG Fayoade

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,142 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,269 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,350 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (43,991 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,931 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,879 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,718 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,289 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,333 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,035 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,489 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,916 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media