Will Joshua fight Usyk this summer? Or will it be Joyce, Parker II, Ruiz III, Whyte II or Ortiz?

Anthony Joshua wants to fight this summer. Hearn reiterated that again today.

Oleksandr Usyk's name was brought up because he is the WBO mandatory contender. He's supposed to be next.

But we've all seen the video of the 230-pound Usyk. And we all know how Usyk was handed his WBO heavyweight #1 rating before he even fought Chazz Witherspoon.

We all know how Usyk seemed really comfortable fighting for a vacant belt sometime later this year.

This guy has had a cakewalk at heavyweight ... and now he's bloated and unprepared.

Can Usyk be ready to fight Joshua in two months? Will he get injured again, like he did in his last two camps? Will Usyk insist on more time?

If Hearn and Joshua pressure the WBO for the mandatory, the WBO is within it's right to name the next available contender.

Who are the top five WBO contenders?
1. Usyk
2. Joyce
3. Parker
4. Wilder
5. Ruiz

If Usyk can't be ready in July or early August, because Joshua is ready now, who does the WBO designate for Joshua's defense this summer?

Is it Joshua-Joyce? Joyce has been preparing for Usyk.

Is it Joshua-Parker II? Parker didn't look good against Chisora (getting dropped), but, he'd jump at a return. And he's fit, too.

Is it Ruiz III? Ruiz is fit, too. Ruiz didn't look good (getting dropped) against Arreola.

But Parker and Ruiz going down doesn't hurt their chances in Hearn's eyes.

Who gets it if Usyk bails out?

EDITED: In Eddie Hearn's interview on May 24, he mentioned that if the Usyk fight couldn't be made, Anthony Joshua could fight in the U.S. against Andy Ruiz or Luis Ortiz (mentioned Ortiz by name). He also said they could fight Dillian Whyte in the UK. So they have been added.

 

I think Anthony Joshua-Joe Joyce would be excellent.

Although Hearn recently stated he wanted to branch out in Japan, Canada, Germany and Australia (because he has his sites on Kostya Tszyu's son).

Joshua-Parker II would probably sell in Australia.

 

Get the sheik on the phone. LOL

 

Got it. Takes some longer than others. Take your time. This is a safe space.

 

When a mandatory can't fight, another mandatory has routinely been named. It's not out of the ordinary.

Usyk is in no condition to fight. Joshua is ready to go. Does Joshua want to wait three and a half or four months for him?

Joyce is up next in the WBO ratings. He was going to fight for the vacant WBO belt or an eliminator anyway. He would likely be the frontrunner if Usyk can't go.

Parker would be the easiest fight to make. He is a former WBO champ, has fought twice this year, is promoted by Hearn and is still in shape.

Frankly, I'd prefer Joshua-Joyce over Joshua-Usyk.

 

He fights Usyk or Joyce or Parker. Depends on how quickly he wants to get the mandatory out of the way and if Usyk can be ready - because he's about the only heavyweight at the top who appears he hasn't been seriously training.

That's why I started this thread.

Parker might have a better shot than any of them. He's the darkhorse.