Eddie Hearn has weighed in on a potential clash between Oleksandr Usyk and Deontay Wilder – and believes the American would be an easy night’s work for Usyk.
Speaking to Boxing Social after Usyk stated his desire to fight Wilder earlier in the week, Hearn said he believed the former WBC world champion was a good opponent for the Ukrainian should Tyson Fury agree a fight with Anthony Joshua. Then followed his prediction.
“It’s a good fight, certainly Saudi Arabia will want the undisputed fight, but if Fury fights AJ that fight won’t be possible till the summer and if AJ beats Fury it won’t be possible till the winter.
If Fury vs AJ gets made Oleksandr Usyk will still want to fight and certainly Wilder would be a good option for him.
I think he wins that fight comfortably – but we’ll see what happens.”
Usyk called for a matchup with Wilder in early 2023, with his manager Egis Klimas stating that Tyson Fury was ‘afraid’ of facing Usyk and that an undisputed bout was still his fighter’s first preference.
Wilder is back in the ring after a year’s absence next month, when he takes on Finland’s Robert Helenius on October 15th. He’s looking to fight his way back to the top of the division following back to back defeats at the hands of Fury – losing his WBC belt in the process after 5 years reigning as champion.
Despite Usyk’s call for a fight with ‘The Bronze Bomber,’ Wilder is being touted to face Andy Ruiz in Spring next year in a huge all-American showdown on Showtime. If both fighters plan to stick around and keep on winning, seeing them face off would be an intriguing clash of styles.