Anthony Joshua Accepts Mandatory Fight With Oleksandr Usyk And Deontay Wilder Not In View

Anthony Joshua has accepted a mandatory fight with Oleksandr Usyk but he would not be running after a unification fight with American boxer Deontay Wilder and a trilogy with Andy Ruiz Jr. will not be happening until every mandatory fight is over. 

The Briton was successful in his rematch fight with the Mexican-American in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday and delivered the victory he promised to regain the IBF, WBA, and WBO heavyweight titles from the California-native.

A bout with the Ukrainian is mandatory in the sense that it was announced by the sport governing body with an instruction that it must happen within 180 days and Joshua accepted the fight in his statement in the post-fight press conference as he said, "In 180 days? Lets rock and roll mate."

Meanwhile, just as Joshua did in his first fight, Ruiz called for a third fight during the press conference but the Briton's promoter Eddie Hearn declined the call on the ground that his client has mandatory fights ahead of him.

Anthony Joshua now has the IBF, WBO, and WBC heavyweight titles after his victory over Andy Ruiz Jr. in Saudi Arabia

"There's an IBF mandatory, there's a WBO mandatory," said Hearn in post-fight interview. "Tonight's about celebrating the victory. His first mandatory was Kubrat Publev, he pulled out, he faced Carlos Takam on a week's notice.

Regarding the American, Wilder, several attempts had been made to agree on a deal for a fight by Joshua and Eddie Hearn and they have always been met with difficulties upon difficulties that eventually made meeting not possible even until now.

Joshua addressed accepting a challenge from the American as he goes on to say, "Oleksandr Usyk, Pulev, Ruiz, I don't want to mention the other guy's name (suggesting Deontay Wilder), you know who they are,"

"I've beaten some good names as well and I'm looking forward to taking on more challenges. Andy is still on that list because I think we make for good music. He's a good dancing partner."