We know its not going to be Parker, Wardley, or Kabeyal. I think the choices are: Uncle Rico Verhouven II The most obvious. It does big business, now, and it will be a lot easier for Uysk the second time around. There is a fan impetus for it among some. Tyson "Greedy Belly" Fury III The one he has said he wanted....the big money Anthony Joshua III They have the bromance going, but also big money, and becomes more likely if you feel Joshua beats Fury David Benavidez Stupid fight in my book but Turkyi wants it, and what Turkyi wants... Jai Opetaia Signed with Zuffa, so if you have the idea of Usyk going to Zuffa, this is plausible. Deontay Wilder Usyk talked about this as the last guy he wanted. Andy Ruiz Ruiz said they talked, and again, he is signed with Zuffa. Could be part of an American invasion. Alex Pereira This was the original Rico idea they floated, and maybe will double back to it? Other (please specify) Jake Paul? David Haye? Who knows how exhibitional this will get
If he signs with Zuffa he's getting milked like cow. They will supply him a closed roster against which to keep winning until he doesn't.
I don't know if it "cleans it up". We can't get that lost 12th round back. If there is a rematch Usyk should win with relative ease. He'd be older but: 1. Rico isn't young himself and just got TKO'd, so he added more wear and his confidence should be lower now his 11 year win streak has been ended 2. Usyk has experience of Rico's style now, and 11 rounds with him to study 3. Usyk has the knowledge that even on his worst night, he could still drop and stop Rico, and Rico knows this too 4. Usyk would take Rico more seriously in a rematch with a point to prove, coming in better condition physically and mentally 5. Usyk has had three pro boxing rematches and won all of them, with fewer problems in most cases
Legacy-wise, it makes sense to let Rico and Fury fight and potentially beat other fighters, and take on Wilder. Those are clearly the three most likely candidates. Benavidez would be a wildcard but I don't see it.
Look at the current HW division Dubois IBF champ who Usyk has knocked out x 2 Gassiev regular WBA champ likely to be elevated to full champ soon who Usyk schooled IBF is vacant but one of Usyk's victims could win that belt soon or beat whoever does hold it Kabayel elevated to full WBC champ now whose best wins are a 41 y/o Big Bang, Mak who is fringe world level at best, and Sanchez and Kabayel could potentially lose to one of Usyk's victims in his next few fights Belly is ranked #1, #3 and #7 who Usyk beat x 2 AJ is ranked #3, #4, #4 and #5 who Usyk beat x 2 Hrgovic is ranked #2,# 4, #4 and #6 who Dubois stopped Miller is ranked #2 by the WBA who Dubois stopped Fabio is ranked #4 and #8 who Dubois stopped The Dosser is ranked #7, #7 and #9 who Belly knocked out x 2 Big bang is 43 y/o Then you have the likes of Moses who hasn't beaten anyone world class Ditto for Riakporhe at HW Okolie who has only beaten Lerena at HW who Dubois stopped Sanchez who is bang average And Belly, AJ and The Dosser are in their twilight of their careers and/or on their way out Then look at the rest of the guys ranked in the top 15 by the sanctioning orgs Usyk can fight whoever the hell he wants now that he's vacated and even it's one of the top guys and he wins that win will subsequently be discredited by so many just like they've all tried to do with all his other HW wins Every world class HW he beat was 36 or younger so 3-4 years away from turning 40
True, I forgot about Chisora and yes Kabayel is the most worthy contender. But he could potentially lose the belt in his next fight or few fights which will change how he's perceived and imagine he did so to Belly, AJ, Dubois or even Gassiev or was knocked out or stopped by them which would drastically change how he's perceived by many?