Oleksandr Usyk, now the undisputed heavyweight champion, solidified his legacy by defeating Tyson Fury this month. However, his ambition to dominate the division was evident back in 2019 when he expressed a desire to fight Anthony Joshua over Andy Ruiz Jr., believing that to be the best, one must beat the best.

At the time, Usyk was the mandatory challenger for either Joshua or Ruiz, who were set to rematch for the unified heavyweight championship in Saudi Arabia. Despite Joshua’s shocking defeat to Ruiz at Madison Square Garden in 2019, he later reclaimed his titles in their rematch.

Before Joshua’s redemption, Usyk was clear about his preference for an opponent. Despite being smaller in weight, height, and reach, the Ukrainian chose Joshua, viewing him as a more significant challenge. In an interview with Sky Sports, Usyk stated, “Anthony Joshua at Wembley. I think it would be much harder for me to fight Joshua.”

Usyk further emphasized his drive to compete with the best in the division: “If you want to be the best, you have to fight the best. These guys today are the best ones, and I wanted to fight the best one. If I am going to be fighting the regular guys, I’m going to be with the regular guys in the line, I want to be on top of it.”

With Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, suggesting a potential trilogy fight with Usyk, the undisputed champion seems eager to face Joshua again. Hearn has indicated that Joshua is open to fighting either Fury or Usyk this year if their planned rematch falls through.

Despite Usyk’s recent victory over Fury, his upcoming bout may not be for the undisputed status. The IBF has mandated that Filip Hrgovic, who has been the challenger for nearly two years, should fight for the title, potentially against Daniel Dubois. Usyk’s camp has requested an exemption to retain his undisputed status before the anticipated rematch with Fury in Saudi Arabia this October.

Eddie Hearn expressed concerns about the tight schedule for both boxers. “I don’t think Tyson Fury is gonna be over the moon with five or six weeks off, but that’s the obligation,” Hearn said. He also suggested the possibility of a Fury vs. Joshua fight, with the winner facing Usyk if the rematch cannot happen as scheduled.

The final decision rests with Turki Al-Sheikh and the fighters themselves. “They have a contracted rematch, but they have to be physically able to make that date, and I guess that’s the next obstacle to overcome,” Hearn noted.

As Usyk prepares for his next challenge, his ambition to fight the best continues to drive him, solidifying his place at the pinnacle of the heavyweight division.