Oleksandr Usyk’s team have expressed their desire for a heavyweight showdown with Anthony Joshua in 2019, promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed.
Asked when Usyk will move up to heavyweight, Hearn told Sky Sports: "After the Bellew fight.
Basically, if Usyk wins this fight, and probably if he loses this fight, he goes to heavyweight straight away.
"That's [Joshua] the one they want."
Discussing a possible timescale for a Usyk fight, Hearn added: "Joshua will only fight twice next year, so it will be the one after.
"It won't be the first one, because I think Usyk will want to fight at heavyweight first. There are loads of fights out there for him."