Usyk looking forward to Joshua-Ruiz winner

Former undisputed cruiserweight champ Oleksandr Usyk will be waiting with anticipation on the year-end rematch between Andy Ruiz and Anthony Joshua.

Usyk was made mandatory challenger for the WBO heavyweight title once he vacated his cruiserweight belt and was set to make his debut in the heavier weight class in May but had to withdraw due to a torn biceps injury. He now will sit back as he has first cracks on whoever is the winner of the rematch, which should be finalized soon on when and where with the latest speculation being in Cardiff, Wales.

“I’m very grateful that they made me a mandatory challenger. I know that it doesn’t happen for no reason. Usyk said in an interview with Sky Sports. “They have nowhere to go. Everything is already set up in place.”

“All we need is to just wait for the events to happen, and I will definitely be boxing with one of them.”

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In the interview with Sky Sports, Usyk was hoping he would be the one to hand Joshua his first loss as a professional.

“There is ego in every man, and I felt that I would love to do the same thing that happened in the ring. Usyk said to Sky Sports.

“But you know, it’s boxing, you never know how it will go. Later on, I gave it a second thought and analyzed it and came to the conclusion that there was nothing bad in what happened.”

Usyk also insists that Joshua losing to Ruiz was because of his size.

“I don’t think that’s the reason [that Joshua lost to Ruiz Jr],” Usyk told Sky Sports.

“There is a general problem that takes place. It doesn’t matter whether your opponent is tall or short. It doesn’t matter whether you fight a two-metre tall guy, or a 1.80m guy.

“You are preparing with sparring partners that look exactly like your opponent. If he really has a problem with boxing with short people, then it’s a really big problem.”