Most boxing critics were thoroughly impressed with Oleksandr Usyk's emphatic victory over Tony Bellew on Saturday night but the outspoken Dillian Whyte has had his say on the Ukrainian fighter...
Never one to shy away from an opinion, Whyte was at the Manchester Arena to watch the undefeated Usyk's victory from close quarters at the weekend and he is unconvinced by the credentials of Bellew's conqueror.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Whyte said:
Usyk will struggle at heavyweight.
"Heavyweights are bigger and stronger guys and they will manhandle him. If I fought him I wouldn't do what Tony Bellew was doing, I'd be charging at him all around the ring.
"He's not going to drop me with one punch. I would maul him all night long. I would fight him in a very uncomfortable zone for him.
Usyk is reportedly eyeing up a clash with Anthony Joshua at some point and Whyte wasn't completely dismissive of the Ukrainian, who knocked out Bellew in the eighth round on Saturday.
"It was a great performance from Bellew but an even greater performance from Usyk," Whyte told Sky Sports.
Joshua is intending to defend his heavyweight titles (WBO, IBF and WBA) at Wembley Stadium on 13 April, although it is worth noting that the cruiserweight champion, Usyk, has never boxed professionally at heavyweight.
Whyte himself is next on action on 22 December at the O2 Arena in London as he faces a re-match against Derek Chisora - Whyte was victorious when they last met in 2016, with the Brixton boxer edging a controversial split decision.
Whyte is already eyeing up a potential clash with Usyk in the future as he laid down the gauntlet during his interview with Sky Sports.
"If it's a big fight and he wants it, he can have it. I'm game. If Usyk wants it he can have it. I'm the 'Can Man', like I say all the time. If you're a top-10 fighter, you can have it."
