Just imagine how biased and agenda driven you have to be to be upset with a CW fighting Povektin or Ortiz in their HW debut. Pathetic.
Big statement if he fights either of those guys as his first outing at HW. Personally I think he’d be wise to acclimatise to the weight with a Takam level guy.
Whyte is not going to fight AJ - its going to be Jarell. So Whyte is free and Usyk needs to man up and face the man who called him out 2 times. Looks like his manager picked 4 fighters who have recently had their ass handed to them.
He isn't fighting Whyte -- at least not yet -- because Whyte himself is waiting to get the call to fight Joshua in April 2019 at Wembley (which will probably happen). Whyte is not going to tear up that Joshua lottery ticket to fight Usyk for a lot less money. Although Usyk vs Whyte is one I would like to see happen. Regardless of whether or not Whyte gets the call to fight Joshua in April, he is no great shakes anyway: the wins over a disinterested Browne and an exposed and reticent Parker flattered him, and he basically went life and death with Dereck Chisora, of all people, for a combined total of 22 rounds. If Usyk vs Whyte does get made, Usyk schools Whyte. It won't even be close.
If Usyk's first fight is Povetkin or Ortiz it's a huge statement of intent and if he wins he immediately becomes a top 5 heavyweight and a top contender for either of the champions. I think it will more likely be Povetkin. Ortiz isn't as lucrative a fight and both Povetkin and Usyk have ties with Matchroom so it should be a more easy easy fight to put together. With both Russia and Ukraine basically at war it would be a huge fight in both their home countries. Only way I don't see it happening is if the location of the fight becomes an issue with either of them wanting the fight in their home country and unwilling to budge. If it happens I see Povetkin giving Usyk problems early on but eventually Uysk takes over from a fading Povetkin and wins a decision. If the Ortiz fight happens I think we'll see Ortiz's biggest flaw again exposed. His slow feet will see him struggle to cut off the ring vs Usyk and Usyk will win a clear decision or stop him late.