Oleksandr Usyk, the world heavyweight champion, recently compared Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury after defeating both fighters, claiming that the British-Nigerian is the better fighter of the two.
Usyk earned the undisputed heavyweight world titles last month after defeating Fury in a historic battle. Their rematch was supposed to take place in October, but it has now been moved out to December 21.
The Ukrainian has two wins over Joshua as he won the unified belts from the 34-year-old in September 2021 and defended them in their rematch the following year.
Usyk gave a funny comparison when talking about his wins against Joshua and Fury as he told Three Knockdown Rule, “Anthony Joshua has classy boxing.
“Greedy Belly, my friend Tyson Fury. It’s like sparkling water, when you open it without shaking it’s good. If you shake it, it [blows]. Sparkling water is Tyson Fury and still water is Anthony Joshua. Tyson’s arms are like two metres, like a rope.”
Usyk admitted he doesn’t want to think about boxing at the moment after spending eight months preparing for Fury. Their fight was pushed back several times and cancelled on just days notice when Fury was cut above his eye in February.
Usyk surprisingly snubbed Fury whilst revealing the hardest puncher he has ever faced saying, “I would say toughest fight, yes, but I think biggest punch, no.
“Derek Chisora, very tough guy. With Derek, I don’t remember which hand if it was left or fight but I would block it and it would be like a baseball bat. It was very dangerous.”
Usyk is expected to lose his undisputed status and be stripped of his IBF belt in the coming weeks so the title can be on the line for Joshua’s UK return in September. The Ukrainian’s manager disagrees with the governing body’s decision and wants to see all four belts on the line again for Usyk and Fury’s second fight.
“We’re waiting for a decision to be made,” Klimas told Boxing Scene.
“I think it’s more important for Tyson Fury now. Oleksandr, of course, is a two-time unified champion and if the next fight is just for the three belts, I don’t think it’s going to be fair for either of the two guys, either Tyson or for Oleksandr.”
