A legendary boxer believes that Deontay Wilder would emerge victorious in a hypothetical bout against Oleksandr Usyk, and he's not alone in this prediction. James Toney, a Hall of Famer with a rich history in the heavyweight division, thinks Usyk might have dodged a bullet by avoiding a fight with Wilder.
Usyk, a formidable champion with wins over Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois, has dominated the heavyweight division. He held the undisputed title before vacating his WBO belt late last year, retaining the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles. However, the prospect of facing Deontay Wilder, a former long-term WBC champion with an impressive defensive record, has been a topic of speculation.
In the past month, rumors suggested that Usyk might defend his titles against Wilder, but the fight never materialized. Instead, Wilder is set to face Derek Chisora in April. Toney, a three-weight world champion himself, believes Usyk is fortunate to avoid a bout with 'The Bronze Bomber.'
Toney, who has faced Evander Holyfield and John Ruiz, knows the challenges of the heavyweight division. In an interview with ESNews, he stated that Wilder would knock out Usyk if they ever met. Toney explained, 'Wilder is a force to be reckoned with. Usyk is a skilled fighter, but he hasn't faced anyone who throws punches like Wilder. It's a different level of competition, and Wilder would likely come out on top.'
While the Usyk vs. Wilder fight isn't imminent, if Wilder defeats Chisora, he could still pursue a shot at Usyk. Toney's confidence in Wilder's abilities adds fuel to the fire, leaving fans curious about the potential outcome of such a high-stakes match.
