Is the IBF Going to Make Wilder-Chisora More Interesting?
By Eddie Sanchez
Oleksandr Usyk faces uncertainty over his WBA and IBF heavyweight belts, with Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder potentially set to fight for the latter.
The Ukrainian, currently the unified WBC-WBA-IBF heavyweight champion, will defend his WBC crown against renowned kickboxer Rico Verhoeven this May.
Details regarding his other two belts were absent in the confirmation of the fight, however.
Usyk previously vacated the WBO crown in his passing on mandatory challenger, and interim holder, Fabio Wardley, last November.
Speculation has risen that the heavyweight king may now be forced to surrender his remaining two belts, according to promoter Kalle Sauerland.
Chisora’s bout with Deontay Wilder at The O2 Arena in London next month, a likely farewell for the Briton, is potentially a fight that may benefit from this uncertainty.
‘Del Boy’ previously defeated Otto Wallin in an IBF eliminator last February, and is the highest-ranked IBF contender, and now Sauerland is lobbying for a shot at the prize.
“Oleksandr Usyk is already a boxing legend, a two-weight cruiserweight and heavyweight unified world champion,” he told Sky Sports News.
“But the sport is the sport. There’s lots of other gladiators out there. Two of them in Deontay Wilder and Derek Chisora, have had amazing careers.”
“Oleksandr Usyk has not had one single mandatory defense of the IBF in his reign as heavyweight champion, as IBF heavyweight champion.”
“Given Chisora’s position at the very top of the heavyweight rankings, and Wilder’s position, it would be amazing for them to fight for the belt.”
“We will be speaking to the IBF to see whether there is something that can resolve the situation, and we will be lobbying for such a move.”
With the Briton having earned an eliminator shot last year that never came to pass, Kalle Sauerland will hope this can be leveraged in their favor.
Deontay Wilder, a former world champion, being the opponent, may help sweeten interest in allowing the belt to be up for grabs.
Stay tuned for more developments.
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