Oleksandr Usyk now targeted to face unbeaten mandatory challenger this year

Oleksandr Usyk could be persuaded to amend his three-fight plan, potentially shifting his focus away from a clash with the winner of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois.

The Ukrainian outlined his exit strategy in March, shortly after it was announced that he would collide with Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23.

This represents Usyk’s first outing since July, back when he became a three-time undisputed champion by stopping Dubois in the fifth round.

Since then, he has vacated his WBO title but still holds the IBF, WBA and WBC belts as he gears up to defend the latter against Verhoeven at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza.

After that, the 39-year-old has expressed his desire to face the winner of Wardley-Dubois, which takes place at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena on May 9.

Wardley was elevated from ‘interim’ to full WBO world champion following his 11th-round triumph over Joseph Parker, who suffered the upset defeat in October.

Should he emerge victorious next Saturday, then the 31-year-old has made it no secret that he will be targeting a potential undisputed showdown with Usyk.

There is a good chance, however, that the WBC will order Usyk to defend his heavyweight title against Agit Kabayel, who holds the sanctioning body’s ‘interim’ belt.

At the same time, The Ring’s Mike Coppinger has reported that Turki Alalshikh is keen to negotiate a fight between the pair in Kabayel’s home nation of Germany.

Having not fought since his third-round finish over Damian Knyba in January, Kabayel’s next outing is likely to take place in the second half of this year, regardless of whether it involves Usyk.