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With Oleksandr Usyk set to face his first stiff heavyweight challenge on Saturday (DAZN, Oct. 31, 2 pm ET) against Derek Chisora, the mandatory challenger to the WBO title held by Anthony Joshua has seemed confident leading up to the bout, and his team share that confidence.
Enough of it from co-promoter Alexander Krassyuk, in fact, that Krassyuk says Usyk is already a lingering threat in Anthony Joshua’s mind:
“Usyk is already in AJ’s head. Their fight will happen anyway, this is just a matter of time. There is no difference how big Usyk’s win is - AJ knows that this guy is a real threat for him.”
The 33-year-old Usyk (17-0, 13 KO) was undisputed cruiserweight champion, winning his first pro title in 2016 and unifying all four belts in 2018, before moving up to heavyweight last year. He scored a win over withered Chazz Witherspoon, but Chisora (32-9, 23 KO) is a much more serious opponent in a serious weight class, where natural bulk and natural power may indeed prove kryptonite to Usyk’s outstanding skills.
How to Watch Usyk vs Chisora
Date: Saturday, Oct. 31 | Start Time: 2:00 pm ET
Location: The SSE Arena, Wembley, London, England
TV: Sky Box Office (UK) | Stream: DAZN
Live Online Coverage: BadLeftHook.com
The Ukrainian will not only be looking to secure that fight with Joshua, who faces IBF mandatory Kubrat Pulev on Dec. 12, but to legitimize himself as a real contender in the division. And he’ll be looking to avoid the same result his countryman and good friend Vasiliy Lomachenko just had against Teofimo Lopez, too.
We’ll have much more on Usyk-Chisora this week, including a full preview of the entire card coming on Wednesday at Noon ET, leading up to live coverage on Saturday at 2 pm ET.