Oleksandr Usyk: Heavyweight champion unsure what’s next as Jai Opetaia welcomes prospect of future fight | Boxing News happymamay

Oleksandr Usyk has remained tight-lipped about what his future holds, as rising Australian star Jay Obitaya has set his sights on fighting the world heavyweight champion.

Usyk and promoter Alex Krassyuk spoke Sky Sports At the Ring magazine awards ceremony held on Saturday night, less than a month after the Ukrainian boxer successfully defended his unified world heavyweight championship against Tyson Fury.

Uysk, who has been linked to face the winner of the Daniel Dubois-Joseph Parker heavyweight bout on February 22, and who has also previously suggested he could move down to the cruiserweight level, said he is currently getting a “rest” and doesn’t yet know what ultimately comes next for him. for him.

Krasiuk then added: “You never know. I have no idea, and we have no idea.”

“Now it’s time to relax, it’s time to relax, and after the Dubois fight with Parker, which I think Parker will win, we don’t know what’s going to happen next. So, now it’s time to relax.”

Dubois, who claimed the IBF belt was vacated by Usyk when he beat Anthony Joshua last September, has called for an undisputed showdown with Usyk, who holds the WBO, WBA and WBC belts.

Another fighter who has now said he is ready to face Usyk in the future is Obitaya, the IBF cruiserweight champion who underscored his growing stature by defending his belt at this level with an emphatic knockout victory over David Nica in Australia on Wednesday.

Obitaya, 29, is currently looking to emulate Usyk by becoming the undisputed cruiserweight champion.

Asked if he would jump at the chance to face Usyk in a heavyweight clash if the opportunity arose, Obitaya said: “Absolutely.

“This is something I’m going to take on with both hands, a battle like this. It’s a huge opportunity for me.

“With all due respect to Usyk, I think he is one of the best fighters of our generation, but I would love to test myself and move up there.”

At cruiserweight, Obitaya said he would next welcome a bout against unified WBA and WBO world champion Gilberto Ramirez.

“I would love that fight,” he said.

“I am chasing unification battles, and I hope this will be one of them.”