In a 2020 interview, Tyson Fury claimed that only one other heavyweight was capable of beating Deontay Wilder – and that heavyweight is Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury, who has been in negotiations to fight Anthony Joshua for months, will now compete against Wilder in their trilogy fight this summer due to a ruling by a US court of arbitration. While the general feeling is disappointment that the fight we all wanted has been delayed, hopefully this will be the last hurdle before it finally materialises later in the year.
Fury fought to a draw with Wilder in their first encounter back in late 2018 before finishing him in the seventh round of their February 2020 rematch.
Now, footage has emerged of an interview Fury did last June, in which he claimed Usyk is the only other heavyweight boxing star who can beat Wilder.
“Deontay Wilder, barring none, even today, is the most dangerous heavyweight alive.
“He would wipe the floor with every other single heavyweight out there, apart from myself.
“And I also believe that Oleksandr Usyk would give him problems. They’re the only two people in the heavyweight division alive today that could give Deontay Wilder trouble.
“That’s myself and Oleksandr Usyk.
“I’m an absolute beast, warrior, legend, ‘lineal’ champion and Usyk because he’s a master southpaw, slick boxer.
“He’s had a lot of experience and he knows how to deal with power punchers.”
‘The Gypsy King’ went on to dismiss the chances of Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte against Wilder, implying that ‘The Bronze Bomber’ would finish them in ruthless fashion within the first few rounds.
The third and seemingly final showdown between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder is expected to take place on July 24 in Las Vegas, whereas Joshua is being tipped to take on the undefeated Usyk in a high risk bout of his own.
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