Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is all up for a showdown with Oleksandr Usyk, but claims the Ukrainian is afraid to do the same.
The very top of the heavyweight division in boxing is stagnant right now. There is little to no lead on who will fight whom and when, and the only somewhat certain thing is that the champion Oleksandr Usyk will defend his titles next against Daniel Dubois. Wilder, Fury, Joshua and Ruiz, for the time being, are without any confirmed opponents.
Boxing fans were hoping to see a heavyweight title unification match this year, but for now, it’s hard to be optimistic. Fury, who currently holds the WBC heavyweight title, did not find common ground with the unified champion Usyk and stated that he was afraid of him.
I’m in the business. I know a lot of things: Deontay Wilder
In the meantime, Deontay Wilder said the same thing yesterday but added that he himself will be ready to face the Ukrainian.
“I’m all for it, but he’s a little afraid. He’s not a little afraid, he’s a lot of afraid. You know, I’m in the business. I know a lot of things,” Wilder told ES News yesterday. “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.” [H/T Boxing News 24]
The “Bronze Bomber” has been out of action since October last year, when he knocked out his former sparring partner, Robert Helenius, in the first round. Before that, he suffered back to back defeats against Fury, while the name of his next opponent is unknown.
There were big rumors that Wilder would fight Joshua in December, but no official confirmation came about. At one time, Andy Ruiz Jr. was also in the game, but those negotiations also failed.
