Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury for the second time last night, in an epic chess battle between two of the greatest heavyweights the sport has ever seen.
The pair went head-to-head in twelve fascinating rounds, with the Ukrainian ultimately proving once again that he is the number one in the division. So with that in mind, we look at who the champion should fight next.
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Daniel Dubois
Within moments of his second win over Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk was approached by an irate Daniel Dubois, who demanded a rematch.
Their first meeting saw its fair share of controversy, with the Englishman landing a heavy right hand that sent the legend to the canvas.
The shot, which was ruled a low blow, split boxing fans down the middle, with many claiming it was actually a legal punch.
Although Usyk took control of the second half of the fight and ultimately got the stoppage, Dubois fans to this day claim he was unlucky not to walk away with the belts.
Joseph Parker
As Dubois is desperate for his chance at redemption, he can't take his eyes off the task at hand, while Joseph Parker is ready to beat him and claim the IBF title for himself.
While the New Zealander has always had remarkable skills, from his fast hands to his killer jab, his mentality has held him back from winning some of his biggest fights in recent years.
However, he has improved by leaps and bounds under Andy Lee, with dazzling performances against Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang.
And if he were to beat 'Triple D' on February 22, he would have every right to call for a clash with Usyk himself.
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Zhilei Zhang
It takes a certain type of fighter to take a tough loss and jump right back into the fire. But that's exactly what Zhilei Zhang did.
After falling short against Parker, he made his return against the greatest puncher in boxing history in Wilder.
And in a truly devastating performance, 'Big Bang' knocked out the 'Bronze Bomber' to remind everyone that he is still a major threat at the top of the division.
Therefore, if he can claim the WBC interim title against Agit Kabayel on February 22, he will put himself at the front of the line for a shot against Usyk.
Agit Kabayel
Agit Kabayel is undeniably the dark horse of the heavyweight division. In 2017, Turkish-German educated Derek Chisora won every round in truly amazing fashion.
But instead of taking advantage of the win, he was left out and no one seemed to want to give him a chance.
But after years of waiting, the gifted fighter has secured two huge scalps in the past twelve months, with brutal knockouts against Arslanbek Makhmudov and Frank Sanchez.
So with his fight against Zhang not far away, the 32-year-old knows that if he comes through with his undefeated record still intact, a clash with Usyk could soon become a very real possibility.
Martin Bakol
Martin Bakole is without a doubt “The Boogeyman” of the division, and few would throw up their hands to volunteer to take on him.
With a combination of buzz about what he's done with the world's best in sparring, and a recent terrifying performance against Jared Anderson, the power puncher is slowly proving himself to be the one to watch in the division.
And while few are willing to give him a chance, Usyk doesn't back down from anyone.
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