Oleksandr Usyk offered world title shot: ‘This fight is much more likely’

Oleksandr Usyk is already considered one of the best in the sport, but he is now being offered the chance to win a world title in a separate third division.

Usyk completed a rare sweep by becoming an Olympic gold medalist in 2012, the undisputed cruiserweight champion in 2018 and now the undisputed heavyweight champion in 2024.

The undefeated Ukrainian southpaw all but finished boxing by defeating Tyson Fury in their historic showdown in May. Next, the two men will renew their hostilities with a rematch scheduled for December 21 where Usyk will put his Ring Magazine, Lineal, WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF titles on the line in Saudi Arabia.

However, he is now being offered another option for the future with former cruiserweight champion turned bridgeweight champion Lawrence Okolie keen to take on the pound-for-pound king.

Speaking to Seconds Out, Okolie said he thought there was a good chance the fight would happen, especially since Usyk indicated he might cut weight after the Fury rematch .

“Nice belt the WBC Bridgerweight belt. It’s an opportunity for him to say he was a three-weight world champion if he beat me so I think it’s a much more likely fight.

When I first came in, he was Cruiserweight Champion. So him and Mairis Briedis, those were all the guys I watched and then I got to the world level at this weight and as I moved up he’s the best heavyweight now so of course I watched him.

Despite his victory, Usyk admitted to making mistakes against Fury in their first fight, but vowed not to repeat them the second time around.