Oleksandr Usyk has named Derek Chisora as the hardest puncher he has ever fought ahead of Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
The undefeated Ukrainian cemented his status as the best heavyweight on the planet as he was crowned undisputed world champion with a points victory over Fury in Saudi Arabia last month.
The 37-year-old previously reigned as undisputed world champion at cruiserweight before moving up to boxing’s blue-riband division in in 2019.
After a routine win over Chazz Witherspoon, his first real test at heavyweight came against former world title challenger Chisora, beating the Londoner via a unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards.
That win catapulted Usyk into a world title fight against Joshua, beating his fellow Olympian twice before putting away another Briton in Daniel Dubois last year before facing Fury.
While Joshua and Dubois are among the biggest hitters in the division with Fury demonstrating his own considerable finishing power in his victories over Deontay Wilder, Usyk has named Chisora as the opponent whose power he feared the most.
Asked if Fury was the toughest fight he had been in and if ‘The Gypsy King’ was the hardest puncher, Usyk told the Three Knockdown Rule podcast: ‘Toughest fight – yes. Biggest punch – no. Because Derek Chisora, very tough guy. [One punch landed] on the gloves and I said, “Oh my God.’ Like a baseball bat.”’
A rematch between Usyk and Fury has been confirmed for 21 December but the champion is also considering a return to cruiserweight before he retires.
Usyk beat Krzysztof Glowacki and Mairis Briedis to pick up his first two titles in that weight category, unifying the division with a win over Murat Gassiev before defending all four belts against Tony Bellew in 2018 – another British fighter he has put away.
‘I think maybe after rematch I am going to go down my weight to cruiserweight,’ Usyk said.
‘I want more cruiserweight. ‘I can get undisputed second time in cruiserweight division. It’s my plan because when I start my prepare my training camp I have to eat every time. For me it’s hard.’
A return to cruiserweight could see Usyk collide with more British fighters with Chris Billam-Smith currently holding the WBO title which will be on the line against Richard Riakporhe at Selhurst Park later this month.
There is also the mouth-watering possibility of a showdown with Australian star Jai Opetaia, who recently reclaimed the IBF title on the undercard of his fight against Fury.