Oleksandr Usyk remains confused about his future as Australian rising star Jai Opetaia has set his sights on a fight with the world heavyweight champion.
Usyk and promoter Alex Krasyuk had a chat Sky Sports Saturday night at the Ring Magazine Awards, just over a month after the Ukrainian boxer successfully defended his unified world heavyweight championship against Tyson Fury.
Uysk, who has been linked with the winner of the Daniel Dubois-Joseph Parker IBF heavyweight title fight on February 22 and has also previously suggested he could drop down to cruiserweight, said he is currently “resting is” and still does not know what will come for him in the end.
Krasyuk then added: “You never know, I have no idea, we have no idea.
“Now is the time to rest, and then after the DuBois fight with Parker, which I think Parker is going to win, we just don’t know what’s going to happen next. So now is just the time to rest.”
Dubois, who claimed the IBF belt was vacated by Usyk when he defeated Anthony Joshua last September, called for an uncontested showdown with Usykwho holds the WBO, WBA and WBC belts.
And another fighter who has now said he is open to taking on Usyk in the future is Opetaia, the IBF cruiserweight champion, who underlined his rising status by defending his belt at that level with an emphatic knockout victory in Australia on Wednesday leading over David Nyika.
Jai Opetaya won 27 out of 27 fights with 21 knockouts.
The 29-year-old Opetaia is currently looking to emulate Usyk by becoming the undisputed cruiserweight champion.
When asked if he would jump at the chance to take on Usyk in a heavyweight clash, Opetaia said: “Definitely.
“It’s something I’d take with both hands, a fight like that. It’s a big opportunity for me.
“Regards to Usyk, I think he’s one of the best fighters of our generation, but I’d like to test myself and get up there.”
In the bantamweight division, Opetaya said he will take on WBA and WBO world champion Gilberto Ramirez next.
“I would love that fight,” he said.
“I’m chasing unification fights, hopefully one of those.”
