Usyk vs Chisora fight confirmed for Oct. 31

Ukranian heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk will face Britain’s Derek Chisora on Oct. 31, Matchroom confirmed on Wednesday.

The fight, which was originally scheduled for May 23, was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. A venue is yet to be announced.

Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs), formerly the undisputed cruiserweight, made his heavyweight debut last October when Chazz Witherspoon retired in the corner after the seventh round.

The 33-year-old might be new on the scene at heavyweight, but he is already No. 1 in the WBO rankings and victory over Chisora will set up a shot at Anthony Joshua, the WBO, WBA and IBF world heavyweight champion next year.

Joshua, who faces Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev on Dec. 12, wants to face English rival Tyson Fury, the WBC champion, next year but may have to face Usyk first in a mandatory defence if he wants to keep hold of the WBO belt.

Joshua and Usyk both won gold at the London 2012 Olympics in the super-heavyweight and heavyweight divisions respectively.

Usyk ended the career of Tony Bellew in his final defence of all four major world cruiserweight titles on his last fight in the UK two years ago.

“I have really missed boxing. I am working hard in my training camp to show a spectacular performance on Oct. 31.”Usyk said.

“As a cruiserweight, I reached the highest heights as undisputed champion and now I am following the same path as a heavyweight.

“I need to test myself against world class heavyweights on my new road to undisputed and Derek stands in front of me.

“I expect a real test in Derek – he is strong, tough and resilient. He is a really big guy and he hits hard.”

Former cruiserweight undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk could be a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division. Dylan Buell/Getty Images

Chisora, (32-9, 23 KOs), 36, who is based in north London after moving to England from Zimbabwe as a child, has recorded three wins since British rival Dillian Whyte scored a 11th round knockout in Dec. 2018.

Chisora is attempting to earn another world title shot, eight years after he took Usyk’s fellow Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko, then WBC champion, to points in 2012.

“Usyk, I’ve been ready for you all year. It’s my home turf and after such a tough year for everyone, I’m going to give the British public the Halloween party they deserve and finally get revenge for my boy Tony Bellew,” Chisora said.

In response to the UK Government’s announcement on Tuesday that fans will not be able to attend sporting events for at least six months, promoter Eddie Hearn said: “Yesterday’s news from the Government was a kick in the nuts, so to bounce back with this fight at this time is so important for boxing.

“You’ve either got to sit back and say ‘it’s not possible’ or find a way to make it happen, and I’ve got to say a big thanks to Team Usyk, ‘Del Boy’ and David Haye for staying patient and helping get this over the line.

“It’s an absolute firecracker and a fight that’s so important to the Heavyweight division over the next few months.”

DAZN will carry the fight in the United States and it will be a Sky Box Office pay-per-view in the United Kingdom.