Dillian Whyte thinks Oleksandr Usyk still has work to do to prove he is the best heavyweight of the last 20 years.
For many, Usyk is already a generational talent. He is a two-time undisputed heavyweight ruler and that came after becoming the undisputed cruiserweight champion back in 2018. His amateur career was just as accomplished and ended with him taking gold at the London 2012 Olympics.
In the last five years, he has beaten the division’s best, including Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois – not just once, but twice, without ever really being hurt or legitimately being down on the canvas.
One man who has now had his say on Usyk is fellow heavyweight contender Whyte, as speaking to The Ring, Whyte gave the Ukrainian his flowers while suggesting his should face Fabio Wardley, who he manages.
“Usyk’s faced all the best fighters, doesn’t seem to run away from any challenge. If you look at the last 10 fights Oleksandr has had, it’s the best fighter at cruiserweight, the best in the world, the same at heavyweight – no reason why he shouldn’t fight Fabio.
“You never know, a big fight might come out of left field for Usyk, but as a fan and as the kind of person I think is, I don’t think he’ll vacate. I think he’ll fight Fabio and if he beats him, on top of the list of all the people he’s beaten, that puts him definitely as the greatest fighter of the last 20 years.”
Wardley is first in line for a shot at Usyk after he beat Joseph Parker via 11th-round KO to secure his WBO mandatory position. He is a former white collar boxer who has always been the underdog on his way up but has continually proven people wrong.
Usyk, though, would be a very different kind of test for the Ipswich man were he to get his shot, despite the fact that the two have sparred together before.
