Usyk vs. Joshua rematch still on track, says promoter Eddie Hearn

Eddie Hearn, promoter for former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, says the rematch with Oleksandr Usyk is still on track to take place in April 2022.

Back in September, Usyk outboxed Joshua over twelve rounds to capture the WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO titles at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Joshua would then exercise an immediate rematch clause.

“Obviously not much other than we got to get together and decide a date. April is realistic for that fight and where it’s going to be,” Hearn told IFL TV.

“AJ is the type that fights twice a year, and sometimes we feel like it would be nice to fight three times a year. We’ve had offers from around the world, but I think the UK will stage that fight.”

According to Hearn, there won’t be any discussions of a step-aside deal.

There was some chatter regarding the possibility of Joshua stepping aside in order to allow Usyk the opportunity to face WBC champion Tyson Fury in a full division unification.

But, the WBC ordered Fury to make a mandatory defense against Dillian Whyte. Those negotiations have stalled – as Whyte is currently engaged in a legal battle with the sanctioning body.

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“We have to sit down with [Usyk’s manager] Alex Krassyuk, and we’ll get Christmas out of the way and we’ll start moving forward with that because it’s time to start planning for that,’ Hearn said.

“Obviously, there were a couple of discussions about step asides and those kinds of fights. So we’ll have to see. But that looks very unlikely now because obviously of the Dillian Whyte situation, which AJ is pleased about.

“He didn’t want to have those conversations unless I presented them to him. So if that’s not the case, he moves forward with what he wants, which is the Oleksandr Usyk rematch.”