The winner of the rematch Oleksandr Usyk against Anthony Joshua is for the top spot in the heavyweight division.
At least that’s in the eyes of The Ring Magazine, renowned and respected in the boxing world for its ranking system, which currently holds Usyk and Joshua as the number one and second ranked heavyweights in the world.
As for Joshua, however, who will seek to regain the unified WBA, WBO and IBF world heavyweight titles when he fights Usyk on Saturday night in Saudi Arabia, he disagrees.
Asked if the winner of his Saturday night fight would become the best heavyweight in the world, Joshua told Sky Sports News: “Unless he’s 100 per cent retired you have to beat as well. Fury.
“It’s not about Fury, with all due respect. It’s just my take on it.
“As it is, you’re just a winner, you’re a winner at the end of the day. There is always another challenge there.
“Until you retire, you will always be challenged to prove that you are the best in the world.
“The minute you say you’re the best is the minute you have to pack your bags. Enough about this Tyson Fury situation.
That being said, Joshua may never get the chance to prove he’s the best by fighting Fury, even if he can get past Usyk first.
After a tumultuous few days, even by Fury standards, which began with his coming out of retirement and Derek Chisora’s call and ended with him announcing once again that he would be leaving boxing behind, he seems like this time ‘The Gypsy King’ is gone for good.
The only reason Joshua and Usyk will compete for the vacancy Ring Magazine the title is because Fury vacated the belt, suggesting he’s serious about retirement this time around.
Fury now has until August 26 to officially vacate his WBC title, but if he does it will be the final nail in the coffin of his boxing career and Usyk’s winner against Joshua 2 will sit atop the table. heavyweight division.
Usyk vs. Joshua 2 on talkSPORT