Deontay Wilder’s trainer Malik Scott has analysed potential fights between his charge and Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk, and believes Joshua is a quicker night’s work for Wilder than the Ukrainian.
‘The Bronze Bomber’ could end up fighting both Joshua and Usyk later this year, if talk of a blockbuster four man heavyweight tournament in Saudi Arabia proves to be substantial.
Speaking to IFL TV, Scott admits he envisages Wilder dispatching of Joshua in three rounds due to the fact he is “not as defensive minded” as Usyk.
“Anthony Joshua is not as defensive minded as Oleksandr Usyk, he doesn’t have the same feet, nor the same reflexes. He’s not as tricky, or as small or light. Usyk can last longer, that’s why I gave him under six rounds.”
“I just see three rounds with ‘AJ’ and Deontay. I don’t even see ‘AJ’ having good moments with Deontay, I see Usyk having good moments, because he’s tricky.”
A huge cross Atlantic clash between the Joshua and Wilder has been talked of for years, and early negotiations actually took place in 2018 for what then would have then been an undisputed world title fight.
These discussions eventually turned sour in a very public way, and it looked for a long time as if the two heavy punchers would never get the chance to settle their differences in the ring
The fight received a new lease of life this week, however, when Simon Jordan reported that there were rumours of a four man tournament – Fury, Usyk, Joshua and Wilder – and Scott seemed to confirm that something like that was on the table.