Usyk is Joshua's mandatory

Yes, Pulev isn't the man to do it, Bob Arum is talking out of his arse.

 

AJ is in a bit of a tight spot as he is expected to fight both his IBF (Pulev) and WBO (Usyk) mandatories within the same six months. From what I understood Pulev is the more urgent one. I'd like to see him fight both, to a large extend because I believe the champ needs to defend according to rules. If AJ shows he's ready to fight both, I'd hate to see him stripped - I'd see an extra month or two negotiated and the fights happen. Than the winner of Wilder/Fury for next Christmas.

 

I think it's time to just get Pulev's fight done and dusted one way or another.

Doesn't make any sense for IBF to have a Bulgarian with a limited fan base hanging onto that mandatory. They really want new players in there competing for that spot and future defenses against bigger names. Pulev is an interesting enough opponent. I think IBF is going to push to get this done.

Ideally, Joshua/Pulev ... Joshua/Fury or Wilder ... winner/Usyk ... and by that time hopefully all these other upcoming HWs will be presenting themselves and Whyte will be at the end of his WBC wait too.

 

Once Usyk slows down he could be in trouble at HW. He needs to get the big fights done ASAP while he's still a zippy dude. Thirty three is not young. Even these days athletes are retiring around there. There seems to be a lack of urgency in his team based on the kinds of fights they're pushing for. It can take so long to schedule the big fights, you age another half year or more before you step in the ring with them, so you can't afford to **** fart around.