Oleksandr Usyk has been on the receiving end of some high praise, with heavyweight icon Mike Tyson sending compliments the way of the unified world champion.
Tyson believes that Usyk ‘is going to get everybody’ in the blue ribbon division due to his ring intelligence and awkwardness.
Speaking with Boxing Social, Tyson said:
“I think Usyk’s going to get everybody.
Usyk is very smart and intelligent, and he’s awkward. I think Usyk is a great fight for anybody.”
Like Usyk, Tyson was a smaller heavyweight who went on to achieve greatness in the division so there is perhaps no one with better credentials to give an evaluation of the Ukrainian.
For all he has achieved as both an amateur and a professional, Usyk may face the toughest test of his boxing life in the coming months, as an undisputed fight with Tyson Fury appears to loom large.
Usyk was ringside to witness Fury’s defence of his WBC world title last month against Derek Chisora before the pair exchanged glares in a fiery post fight face off.
Talks are said to be progressing well between the two camps and an agreement for the first undisputed heavyweight world title fight in over twenty years is not thought to be far away.
Although a date at Wembley Stadium has not been ruled out completely by promoter Frank Warren, he admitted in a recent interview the historic fight would more than likely land wherever it generates the most revenue.
In all probability, this means a return to the Middle East for big time heavyweight boxing, with multiple lucrative site fee offers from the region reportedly already received.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – where Usyk defeated Anthony Joshua for a second time last summer – is believed to be the frontrunner to land the mammoth event.