Heavyweights Eye Oleksandr Usyk Titles Before Verhoeven Fight

One proposal involves the IBF title. Promoter Kalle Sauerland confirmed that inquiries have been made about whether the organization would consider placing its belt on the line in the planned April fight between Deontay Wilder and Derek Chisora.

“Oleksandr Usyk has not had one single mandatory defense of the IBF title in his reign,” Sauerland told Sky Sports. “Given Chisora’s position at the very top of the IBF heavyweight rankings right now, and Wilder’s position as well… it would be an amazing addition for them to be able to fight for the belt.”

The IBF rankings add another complication. Chisora currently appears at #2 in the organization’s heavyweight standings, while Wilder does not appear in the latest rankings at all. Any decision to attach the IBF title to their fight would require the sanctioning body to issue a ruling on Usyk’s championship status.

Another request has emerged on the WBA side. Former unified cruiserweight champion Murat Gassiev currently holds the WBA’s secondary “regular” heavyweight belt, and his team has asked the organization to consider elevating him to full champion.

These discussions have surfaced while the WBC proceeds with sanctioning Usyk’s planned May 23 fight with Verhoeven as a legitimate title defense. Verhoeven, a dominant kickboxing champion, has only one professional boxing contest on record, a victory over Janos Finfera more than a decade ago.

The situation leaves the heavyweight division in an unusual position. Usyk is preparing for a voluntary fight outside the normal contender list, while other camps look for ways to bring the remaining titles into play.

Sanctioning bodies have not announced any decisions, but the interest from rival teams shows that several fighters believe the heavyweight belts could soon be available without facing the champion himself.