HEAVYWEIGHT champion Oleksandr Usyk has signed with Skill Challenge Promotions.
The Saudi Arabian-based promoters made the announcement today which see Usyk join cruiserweight Badou Jack at SCEE.
The 36-year-old is set to defend his belts on August 26 in Wroclaw, Poland against Britain’s Daniel Dubois. That fight comes two days after Ukraine’s Independence Day. Its original date had been August 12 but was shelved so the fight could be closer to the public holiday for Ukrainian’s.
SCEE was founded by His Highness Prince Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and promoted fights in the Middle East, primarily out of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz II and Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua II.
Today’s news will likely spark further speculation about a rumoured heavyweight card in the Middle East later this year involving Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua v Deontay Wilder.
Usyk and Fury’s teams had been in negotiations for the fight to take place on April 29 at Wembley Stadium, but they failed to agree terms.
The career of Usyk and his achievements have not solely been based in the heavyweight division. Beginning as a cruiserweight the gifted southpaw made his professional debut on November 9, 2013, against Felipe Romero. The win came over a year on from the pinnacle of his amateur success winning the heavyweight gold medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
By July 2018 Usyk was not only the best cruiserweight in the world, holding all four belts, but one of the elite pound-for-pound fighters. His time at 200lbs ended with a dramatic knockout of Tony Bellew four months later.
His passage to heavyweight glory took him to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London when the wily Ukrainian out-boxed Anthony Joshua over 12 rounds. Their rematch in Jeddah last year was closer but Usyk still had enough to earn a split decision.
