As the announcement of Oleksandr Usyk’s next fight edges closer, the same question continues to loom large: who, if anyone, can beat him?
The world’s number one heavyweight currently holds three of boxing’s four major titles and has made no secret of his desire to face former WBC champion Deontay Wilder next. Speculation is gathering pace that a Ukraine–USA showdown could take place in America during the first half of the year.
Usyk’s résumé already places him among the elite of the era. The Ukrainian has defeated both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua twice, victories that cemented his dominance over a generation of heavyweights. Last summer, he became a two-time undisputed champion with a second win over Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium, underlining both his superiority over the division.
Those victories over Fury and Dubois also doubled as defeats for Frank Warren, who promotes both British heavyweights. While Warren may believe his rising star Moses Itauma is the man to eventually dethrone Usyk, for now the champion remains unbeaten and, to many, untouchable.
Speaking in a sit-down interview with the Clubhouse Boxing podcast, Warren weighed in on the proposed clash between Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) and Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs).
“Deontay’s 40 years of age. He’s a fit guy from that point of view. Is he the same fighter? I don’t think he’s the same fighter. But then again, is Usyk the same fighter? As much as he beat Tyson, those fights took something out of him. I thought that watching him.”
Warren did, however, acknowledge that Usyk has shown few signs of decline.
“In the second fight there were a couple of things in there which still show he’s a fighting man at heart, and he certainly showed against Daniel Dubois that he was on top of his game.
“He’s still there, he’s still the man to beat. If he’s going to make that fight and it’s Deontay in the other corner, then let them get it on. I would expect Usyk to win. I’d be very surprised if he didn’t. But one thing Deontay can do — he can whack.”
Warren was ringside for Wilder’s trilogy with Fury, watching the American floor the Brit four times. Yet for all Wilder’s destructive power, even that feared right hand was never enough to hand him victory over the “Gypsy King.”
