By Charles Brun: WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder says he doesn’t see former unified cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (16-0, 12 KOs) as being a threat to him due to his small size and lack of punching power. Wilder says he doesn’t care that Usyk uses a lot of movement, because that doesn’t bother him.
Some heavyweights in the top tier have problems against movers, but not Deontay. For Usyk to compete against the best
Hearn counting on Usyk hitting it big at heavyweight
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn won’t be happy if Usyk fails to excel at the heavyweight level. Hearn signed the 2012 Olympic gold medalist Usyk not long ago, and he has dreams of him accomplishing big things in the heavyweight division.
If Usyk fails to succeed at heavyweight, Hearn will be stuck with another finesse level fighter. Usyk could stay at heavyweight and be a Jimmy Young level fighter or he can move back down to cruiserweight, and try and recapture his four titles.
Instead of Usyk becoming the next Evander Holyfield to win a heavyweight world title, he could be the next Jimmy Young. There’s nothing wrong with that. Usyk could occasionally beat one of the good heavyweights, but then fail most of the time when against someone with too much size and power.
Usyk, 6’3″, is about the same weight as the 6’7″ Wilder, but he’s considerably shorter, weaker and slower. The lack of punching power for Usyk at the heavyweight level could limit his career greatly if he chooses to remain in this weight class. Usyk might need to move back down to cruiserweight if he’s unable to fight at a high level at heavyweight.
Usyk is too small for me says Deontay Wilder
“Oleksandr Usyk isn’t a threat to me. He’s too small for me,” said Wilder. “I mean, he does a lot of movement, and stuff like that, but that don’t phase me.”
The heavyweight that Wilder is impressed with right now is unbeaten Daniel Dubois. Wilder sees the young 22-year-old Dubois as someone that could soon be challenging for a world title.
Usyk, 32, is already set to challenge for the WBO heavyweight title against the winner of the Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Anthony Joshua rematch. As long as Usyk wins his next fight on October 12 against Tyrone Spong (14-0, 13 KOs), he’ll be set to fight the Joshua-Ruiz 2 winner. Usyk vs. Spong will be shown on DAZN at the Wintrust Arena, in Chicago, Illinois.
Daniel Dubois stands out the most says Wilder
“The UK has got some good fighters on the horizon,” said Wilder to Sky Sports Boxing. “I really like Daniel Dubois. The kid is strong. He seems really focused, and really disciplined, and he seems like he’s on a mission. I definitely wish him well on his pursuit as he’s coming up.
“I think he’s going to be a good challenger. Whether it’s me if I’m still here or somebody else, I think he’s going to be a good challenger. I think he’s going to make it to fight for a world title one day. To be a champion, who knows? But I think he’ll get to that point. But for me, he stands out the most,” said Wilder.
Dubois still has a long way to go before he can fight for a world title. Right now, Dubois is still fighting lower level fighters, like Nathan Gorman and Ebenezer Tetteh. It’s easy to look good against those types of heavyweights.
Deontay Wilder wants to unify heavyweight division in 2020
“I go from point A to point B with lightning speed, because the speed is the power,” said Wilder. “I’m already blessed with the power. So when all that comes together, and lightning and power transports from point A to point B, damn, baby, good night. There will be one face and one name, and he goes by the name of Deontay Wilder,” said Deontay when asked if he’ll unify the heavyweight division in 2020.
“It’s not just up to me, but I speak with confidence. It’s up to a lot of other people to do what they’ve got to do too, but I think they’re going to get the job done. And when they do, the world is going to see one of the biggest fights of their time. What other man deserves it than I? I’m a King, a leader, and a ruler. I have power in my tongue. It’s been like this since I was young, but I understand it now,” said Wilder.
Wilder needs to win his next fight against Luis Ortiz on November 23, and then look to set up a fight between the Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz Jr. rematch winner. Tyson Fury will be looking to foil Wilder’s plans by facing him in early 2020 in a rematch. Wilder wants to put off fighting Fury until after he faces the Joshua vs. Ruiz winner.
