ANTHONY JOSHUA HAS been ordered to defend his WBO heavyweight title against mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk following the apparent collapse of the Briton’s fight against domestic rival Tyson Fury.
Fury announced earlier this week he would take on Joshua in Saudi Arabia on August 14, only to be informed hours later by a United States arbitrator that he was contractually obliged to fight Deontay Wilder for a third time.
The legal ruling has led to Fury’s team turning their attentions to Wilder, while the WBO contacted Eddie Hearn on Wednesday, giving Joshua’s promoter 48 hours to show a reason why a fight with Usyk should not be mandated.
Hearn requested an extension until Monday morning to the “show cause” notice in order to “discuss the subject matter and other related affairs” with Joshua, but that provoked an objection from Usyk’s team.
The WBO sided with the Ukrainian, who had previously agreed to step aside to allow Joshua-Fury to go ahead, and said in a statement on its website: “The extension request is hereby denied.”
As a result, the two fighters and their teams have until May 31 to reach an agreement for a fight or purse bids will be called.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Huge achievement for Touhy. A win tomorrow against Port, will put them 2nd on the ladder. At the way he’s playing, hes in line to make the All-Australian team this season.
@John Paul: I reckon he will go past the 246 total of the Legend Jim Stynes,he’s been an outstanding player for the Cars this year and he’s in their leadership group for a reason.
@John Paul: no Huge achievement for Tuohy. Why does everyone misspell this. He’s earned the correct spelling. Fair play.
@Bunny Johnson: Oh shut up complaining
Stynes is an AFL legend, very highly regarded over here. Was a gentleman too , done great work with the GAA and irish communities over here. Touhy is doing very well for himself, has adapted well and is a genuinely great player.
@rocks0769: agreed. Anyone who hasn’t seen it the RTÉ Documentary on Jim Stynes is an incredibly powerful watch. It’s on YouTube “Every Heart Beats True: The Jim Stynes Story”
@rocks0769: Tuohy. Again, why does everyone misspell this.
@5☆Fily: cheers, I haven’t seen that. Will look it up tonight.
Dont follow AFL a great deal, but i assume it is very achievable for Touhy to break Stynes’ record. Is that the case?
@Gareth Ward: Big ask, but it’s doable.
@Gareth Ward: Tuohy not Touhy.
Jim styles ????! Jim Stynes im guessing is who youre trying to write about ?!