Ukrainian heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk said Friday he hopes to face Britain’s Tyson Fury in a unification fight in 2023.
Fight plans have been under discussion since Usyk, 35, won a rematch with Anthony Joshua last month to clinch the IBF, WBA and WBO treble.
Usyk said in Kyiv on Friday: “I really want to see this match take place next year.
“I don’t know what he’s thinking. This is Tyson Fury. Everyone knows he’s a very crazy kid,” he said.
Last month, WBC champion Fury announced his retirement from boxing, but after the Usyk-Joshua fight, he posted a video on Twitter that read, “I will annihilate both Usyk and Joshua in the same night.”
Fury posted another video on August 24th, setting a deadline for the plans on September 1st.
“If not, thank you very much. It was a lot of fun. I retired,” he said.
Usyk said Friday that “managers, promoters, everyone who has the right to do so are communicating and working[to prepare for the fight].”
“I have no interest in boxing with anyone else unless it’s Tyson Fury,” he added.
A victory over the 6-foot-9-inch (2.06-meter) Fury would tie all four heavyweight belts and constitute the pinnacle of glory for the Ukrainian.
However, Usyk said he could not compete until the end of the year due to his injury.
“I have some old injuries that are known for themselves and need to heal. I think recovery will take at least a few months,” he said.
