Oleksandr Usyk next fight: Cruiserweight champion discusses potential Anthony Joshua showdown after beating Tony Bellew

Usyk said he needs a long rest before embarking on his 'goal' of becoming heavyweight champion

Oleksandr Usyk insisted that he needed “a long rest and to spend some time with my family” after beating Tony Bellew in a thrilling cruiserweight world title fight in Manchester — but it did not take long for thoughts to turn to Anthony Joshua.

Usyk defended all four of his world crusierweight titles when he stopped Bellew in the eighth round of an exciting fight, in which he trailed on two of the three judges scorecards.

Bellew started the fight brilliantly and made good on his promise to take the fight to Usyk, but the Ukrainian was ultimately too classy and ended the fight with a thunderous straight left.

Afterwards, Usyk said that he was looking forward to a rest after “the most difficult year of my career”.

“This has been a very successful year but it has also been the toughest year of my career. So right now my primary concern is my rest. And I want to spend some time with my family.”

But already plans are being made on his behalf. And his promoter, Alex Krassyuk, was quick to single out a 2019 showdown with Joshua. “With Eddie Hearn we can make some great fights. Usyk definitely needs to fight Anthony Joshua,” he said.

Hearn however suggested Usyk would be better off with a warm-up fight at heavyweight before attempting to become the first man ever to stop Joshua.

“He will want to move into heavyweight and get comfortable,” said Hearn.

“I would like him to come to Whyte vs Chisora. There is Parker, Takam, Miller, Povetkin. But he will tell me the kind of fights that he wants. And if he comes back to Britain it has to be a British heavyweight. But I am sure he will want a fight to progress and then challenge for the world heavyweight title.”