Eddie Hearn says it won’t matter if Anthony Joshua enters an interim bout if he has to wait for a rematch against Oleksandr Usyk.
A war that once took place in May now looks highly unlikely after Usyk returned to Ukraine to join his country’s ongoing war with Russia. The WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion joined the territorial defense battalion and told CNN this week he doesn’t know when he will rematch.
Joshua lost three titles last year to Usyk and parted ways with longtime coach Robert McCracken later. While a new corner player has not been announced, AJ has spent time in the US working with various coaches as he tries to correct mistakes that caused his second professional defeat. .
Hearn told The MMA Hour, hosted by Ariel Helwani, that Usyk may have the time he needs but the rematch remains their priority.
“First of all, our thoughts are with the Ukrainian people,” Hearn said.
“People who show incredible bravery out there, especially some of the great boxers of the past (Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko) and also Oleksandr. He may have the time he needs. We don’t want any other fight than Oleksandr Usyk, so whether that fight gets delayed and we get a makeshift one, I guess it depends on the situation with Oleksandr Usyk and him How much time do we need?
“It was a very emotional and personal time for the Ukrainian people so we respect them [Usyk’s team], give them all the time but we will not find a way out of our obligations is what I am saying. The only fight AJ wants right now is Oleksandr Usyk. If we have to fight in the middle, no problem but we will respect this time for Oleksandr Usyk. We will talk to his advisers and if there is a need to delay the contract period we will gladly allow it, but we want that fight and we do not want that obligation to slip. Go. “
