Usyk wants to walk on the Wilder side

At the WBC Convention in Bangkok, Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk said he wants to fight Deontay Wilder next.

As playful, whimsical and coy outside of  the ring,  as he focused, efficient and ruthless within it, he suggests: “I want to fight Wilder because he’s a very famous guy during the last few years, was a champion and is a very dangerous opponent. I’m not looking for a dangerous guy, as all my opponents are dangerous.”

Moving from cruiser supremo up to heavyweight, guaranteed the inevitability of considerably larger opponents. Oleksandr sighs deeply before answering: “Size doesn’t matter. If size mattered, the king of the animals would be the elephant.

“My nickname is the cat. But the cat is very dangerous. Lion is two cat, tiger is two cat. For two years I lived in the gym and I am champion.

“My most difficult opponent is me. Always the chances for me are fifty/ fifty, but I win all the time. My second Alexander character within me is a small guy. But if you can not…I can.”

Oleksandr has undergone long training camps, apart from his family, so what is the balance between loved ones, ambition and money?

Succinct priority list response: “God, family, team, friends, cars, house, dogs, cats, food and motorbike. Listen…money is the effect of the work.”

Evander Holyfield who trod the same weight divisions before him, interests Oleksandr who says: “I read a lot about him and when we met, it was very interesting to hear the old school stuff, how his mother supported him a lot and about Evander fighting Mike Tyson.

“When Evander started boxing, in his first competition, he lost. He went home and said it was a bad idea to go training in the morning. But Mama told him to try again. And in his second competition he lost. Three times he lost and the  fourth time won. Then Mama said Enough Stop. But Evander continued. If you continue to work, you will grow.”

Concerning his war torn home of Ukraine Oleksandr says: “Our people are smart and brave, defending themselves against the aggression against those who are trying to destroy our independence.”

In the past, Oleksandr has shaved his head, sported a Mohegan but his current style is not too dissimilar to the Beatles. He grins: “Listen, I’ve heard the Beatles. Like or not like, I cannot say…Fifty fifty, but I do like my hair.”

Before departing Oleksandr said God Bless to everyone. A truly great champion and a very pleasant as well as affable man.”