Usyk named the opponent he would not like to face in the ring - video

World heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk named an opponent he would not like to face in the ring. The Ukrainian explained why one of the fights expected by fans will not take place. Oleksandr Usyk responded to Joe Joyce's challenge in an interview with Radio Rahim on the SecondsOut YouTube channel.

Ukrainian super heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk is going to hold at least a few boxing matches in 2023. However, he does not want to compete with the British Joe Joyce.

Usyk considers such a confrontation too risky. In addition, it will not bring any dividends to the Ukrainian. Joyce won the interim WBC belt after defeating the New Zealander Parker. His desire to fight Alexander is quite understandable. However, if Joe could win the WBA Super, IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring belts, then he has nothing to offer Usyk.

"I don't want to go into the ring against Joe Joyce. What incentive could I have for such a match? None. You have seen the fights of this athlete. He is unrestrained, goes and goes forward. I can understand him. But let's be serious: I'm only interested in title fights," said Oleksandr Usyk.

The 35-year-old Ukrainian and the Briton already met in 2013, when both performed in amateur boxing. That time, Usyk defeated Joyce. Now, 37-year-old Joyce dreams of making his way to the top, but for this he needs to get Alexander's consent to fight in any way possible.

It will be recalled that the Ukrainian boxer intends to hold a confrontation with the British champion Tyson Fury. In the event that this fight cannot be arranged, Oleksandr Usyk may return to cruiserweight to fight Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.

Earlier, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) recognized Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk as the boxer of the year.

It will be recalled that at the end of March, Usyk's house near Kyiv was seized by the Russian invaders. On the site belonging to the titled boxer, the enemy has placed armored vehicles.

By the way, the WBA, WBO, and IBF super heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk and Briton Anthony Joshua met on August 21 in a rematch. The fight ended with the victory of Oleksandr Usyk. The fight took place at the Jeddah Super Dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.