Former WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder has made his prediction ahead of the scheduled rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.
Usyk inflicted the first career defeat on ‘The Gypsy King’, winning a split decision to become the first undisputed champion of the four belt era.
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, Wilder, a former three-time foe of Fury, believes the right man won on the night and that his old rival was ‘saved’ from a knockout.
“I was on the fence I didn’t know who was going to win, but being that Uysk did win, congratulations to him.
I think the referee took away a knockout from him, they’re always trying to save somebody, I’m not going to say who.
Congratulations to Usyk and I wish him nothing but the best.”
Both men had a contractual rematch clause going into the first encounter and it didn’t take long for Fury to confirm he wants to run it back, with the two now set to meet again before the end of the year.
When that day comes, Wilder is picking the Ukrainian to keep hold of his belts once again.
“The rematch, who knows, it’s all about what person brings what dog to the fight. Many times we have good days and we have bad days, you just never know.
If I had to pick I would say Usyk, but let’s see what happens.”
On a potential future matchup against Usyk, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ is confident he would give the people what they crave.
“Do what I do best, come through with the right hand. I feel like if I connect with anyone with the right hand then it’s going to be devastating, it’ll be a knockout.
One thing about him is he’s a southpaw and I love southpaws. I’m always coming to give people what they to see and that’s a knockout.”
Wilder is hoping to put himself back into title contention when he faces Zhilei Zhang on June 1 in Saudi Arabia. The card will be shown live on DAZN PPV and pits five fighters from Eddie Hearn’s roster against five from Frank Warren’s.
