If Oleksandr Usyk has shown anything in his career, it’s that the unified heavyweight world champion has one of the best chins in the heavyweight division, opines Deontay Wilder’s trainer and former boxer Malik Scott.
Usyk will face Daniel Dubois this Saturday in Wroclaw, Poland, where the Ukrainian will put his WBA, WBO and IBF titles on the line against Dubois, the WBA’s “Regular” champion who is up against the toughest challenge of his career.
I got Oleksandr Usyk by stoppage: Malik Scott gives his prediction for Usyk vs. Dubois
While many see Dubois as having an advantage in size, Scott has a different take and believes that even though he hits Usyk, the latter will be benefitted for having one of the best jaws in the division.
“I got Usyk by stoppage,” said Scott regarding the fight. “Dubois is a big guy, obviously if he hit him (Usyk) … But then, if he hit him, it’s almost like, so what? Usyk got one of the best chins in the division. His issue with punching and [taking punches] has nothing to do with his chin. He’s taken harder, better punches from bigger boxers than Daniel Dubois.”
Scott, who has trained with Usyk and is a friend of the unified champion, knows the problem will be for Dubois, the 25-year-old Briton who has shown his punching power, knocking out 18 of his 19 wins.
And while “DDD” has proven his punch with deadly knockouts in his career, Scott insists he hasn’t faced anyone quite like the Ukrainian southpaw, who may not be a knockout but can hurt anyone with his punches.
“Then I think Daniel Dubois is going to overcommit a lot,” Scott went on, “when you overcommit a lot against Oleksandr Usyk he’s able to hurt you, even though he’s not the biggest puncher, he can hurt you with shots you don’t see coming. And Daniel Dubois has never been in the ring with nobody like this. He’s gonna find out very early that there’s levels to this.” [H/T Boxingscene.com]
