Usyk says Fury will be his ‘hardest’ heavyweight challenge and Wilder will be the ‘easiest’
OLEKSANDR USYK reckons Tyson Fury will be his most difficult heavyweight challenge - and Deontay Wilder will be easiest.
The unbeaten Ukrainian, 32, is making the step up from cruiserweight tonight but has his eyes on the world titles.
He takes on Chazz Whitherspoon in Chicago tonight and will retain his status as the mandatory challenger to the WBO heavyweight belt with a win.
Andy Ruiz Jr currently holds that title and will defend it against Joshua in Saudi Arabia on December 7.
And Usyk is already targeting a world belt.
He told Behind the Gloves: "The hardest would be Tyson Fury.
"And Deontay Wilder is the easiest.
"I just want to fight him. He has the belt."
He's not a threat to me. He's too small for me.
Deontay Wilder on Oleksandr Usyk
But WBC king Wilder, 33, insists the new kid on the block will not be a challenge.
He told Sky Sports: "He's not a threat to me.
"He's too small for me. He does a lot of movement but that doesn't faze me."
Wilder stands at 6ft 7ins with a reach of 83ins.
Usyk, meanwhile, is 6ft 3ins and his reach is five inches shorter.
The pair have a combined professional record of 58 fights undefeated
By comparison, Tyson Fury is 6ft 9ins, Anthony Joshua is 6ft 6ins but Andy Ruiz Jr and Derek Chisora are both 6ft 2ins with 74ins reaches.
And Fury is also confident he could dispatch Usyk should the pair meet in the ring.
The Gypsy King said to CBS Sports: "I could probably beat Usyk with one arm tied behind my back and I’ll let you pick which one you want me to fight with, left or right.
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"Either way it would be goodnight."
But the Ukranian Usyk hit back: "If [Fury] wants to face me with one hand behind him, okay. I will accept that. It’s even easier.
"But let me define what his real thoughts are, because one day he says I’m good and the next day he says I’m not good."
