Reigning World Heavyweight Champion, Anthony Joshua has been asked by the WBO to fight undefeated Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk before June 2020.
The British-born Nigerian boxer his WBO, WBA, IBF and IBO titles from Andy Ruiz Jr, following a unanimous point decision in Saudi Arabia just a week ago.
However, the WBO has formally ordered Anthony Joshua to challenge the organization’s number one contender Usyk in the next 180 days.
In a letter sent to Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn from WBO, it indicates the decision made by the WBO and its contents are;
“The WBO World Championship Committee hereby orders the parties herein commencement of negotiations for the above-mentioned WBO heavyweight mandatory championship contest.
Please be advised that the parties have 30 days upon receipt of this letter to reach an agreement. If an accord is not reached within the time frame set forth herein, a purse bid will be ordered pursuant with the WBO regulations of world championship contests.”
Anthony Joshua has a remarkable record of 23 wins and one loss with 21 of them coming by the way of knockout.
Ukrainian boxer, Usyk is also unbeaten with 17 wins from 17 fights and 13 coming by the way of knockout, which puts in a favourable position to become Anthony Joshua’s next opponent.
Usyk who dominated the cruiserweight division made his heavyweight debut on 12 October, as he knocked out Chazz Witherspoon in the seventh round in Chicago.
SIGNED ✍🏾
Anthony Joshua has signed his release forms with the @WorldBoxingOrg and officially vacated his WBO Title.
Oleksandr Usyk vs Joseph Parker for the vacant title could be contested for as early as February 2020. #boxingkindgom pic.twitter.com/J5nTS2ORwe
— Boxing Kindgom (@BoxingKindgom14) December 12, 2019
