By Brian Webber: Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua will be battling for the vacant Ring Magazine title in the immediate aftermath of Tyson Fury suddenly vacating the strap and retiring.
In some ways, it’s only fitting that Usyk vs. Joshua II has the Ring Magazine heavyweight title on the line, as the winner of that fight will be viewed as the #1 guy in the division.
Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) and IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) will meet next Saturday, August 20th for their rematch at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia.
‘It’s a real bad wind that doesn’t blow somebody some good.‘ Fury’s decision to retire and vacate his Ring Magazine will result in the Usyk-Joshua 2 fight having that prestigious title on the line for their rematch.
“The Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua rematch next Saturday will have the vacant Ring Magazine heavyweight title on the line after Tyson Fury vacated,” said talkSPORT.
If Usyk wins, his next target will be to go after whoever is in possession of the WBC title.
The World Boxing Council hasn’t yet determine who will be fighting for the vacant WBC heavyweight title, but it’s possible that it could be made available for the Joseph Parker vs. Joe Joyce fight in September.
Usyk has already beat Joyce in the World Series of Boxing many years ago. Of course, that fight took place when Joyce was fighting in the low 230s, and hadn’t packed on the bulk that he now carries into his fights.
“I think Usyk is looking on form and fire, and he’s beaten him before. It’s not looking very good,” said Joe Joyce to Secondsout. “Joshua has a puncher’s chance, and let’s see what he’s been working on with Robert Garcia’s team.
“We’ll see if he can change things up. He’ll come out a little more offensive, and it’ll be a firefight. It’s going to be exciting. I can’t wait,” said Joyce.
Joshua will need to be a lot more aggressive for him to beat Usyk because he’s going to get outboxed again if he fights at a slow pace, as he did last September when he lost.
