Usyk joins Matchroom ahead of potential Bellew clash

Image: Matchroom Boxing

Cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk has signed a promotion deal with Matchroom Boxing, as talks continue regarding a possible fight versus Tony Bellew later this year.

Usyk will also be working with K2 Promotions, and it’s been confirmed that his next outing will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and streaming giant DAZN around the world.

The undisputed champion was quick to call out Bellew after his World Boxing Super Series final win against Murat Gassiev.  Bellew accepted the challenge almost immediately, and it now looks likely to happen within the next few months.  A November 10th date has been mooted.

A spanner was potentially thrown into the works a few days ago, when Russia’s Denis Lebedev was called as the WBA’s mandatory to one of Usyk’s various belts, but that shouldn’t prove to be a huge issue.  Usyk’s international profile is now high enough not to need that title in order to secure a big fight.

Perhaps more excitingly, the move to Matchroom also paves the way for a future fight against heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua – a fight many hardcore boxing fans have been eyeing for years.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed Uysk has signed on a 3 fight deal.  He’d like the first of which to be against Bellew, and believes the Ukrainian will jump straight to heavyweight if that fight can’t be made.