Quotes from Friday’s Oleksandr Usyk vs. Derek Chisora kickoff press conference at the Royal Institute of British Architects ahead of their heavyweight clash at The O2 in London on May 23, shown live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the US.
Oleksandr Usyk: “I am very happy to be back here and I really hope that this fight will take place. He’s a really big guy and he hits hard. I will train hard and I will be in the best shape for this fight and I tell you once again, I love boxing very much, I love to box.”
Derek Chisora: “I am fighting one of the best fighters out there! The guy knows how to box and I can’t get sparring partners who can box like him. I will chuck whatever I can chuck. I want to take his golden ticket and I want to take what he has and make it mine. I think the way he wins this fight is by knocking me out but that is not going to happen because I am going to keep coming.”
I’m pumped for this fight…..couldn’t agree more with Chisora’s comments.
My mistake…I agree except for the part where he says Usyk needs to knock him out etc…..I’m picking Usyk by decision.
These two should be ashamed of themselves for going ahead with a press conference.
Ballsy fight for Usyk to take just to stay busy, because he can’t stop Chisora and has to fight almost perfect for 12 rounds. Usyk could possibly make Del boy quit though, because the Brit can get frustrated and call it a day as he did against Tyson Fury.
Good test for Usyk..I hope he can get pass Delboy, then title shot next
There is a lot of intrigue about Usyk’s transition to the heavyweights. One thing I have noticed, at 6’3″ , he is not really a small heavyweight . Oscar Rivas, Carlos Takam, Alexander Povetkin, Andy Ruiz, Chisora, are truly heavyweights smaller than him. Are they better boxers than him?
I agree the fact that he has been campaigning as a cruiserweight and the ones before mentioned have been facing other heavyweights during their boxing career, and also used to be heavy, way above cruiserweight.
Two things I like to observe in Usyk’s transition: How he will react or respond when a good punch lands on him and his quickness, reflexes as a heavyweights. I have no doubts about his ring IQ, but what about if he gets staggered or knocked down by a good punch?
Would he be able to maintain at heavyweight, the same skill level that gave him an edge above the others at cruiserweight?
I personally think Usyk will prevail against top not too big heavyweights but a big skilled guy like Joshua will walk through him like Giovani Segura did against Ivan Calderon and he will not be able to to outsmart a big heavyweight with equal ring IQ like Tyson Fury. Both will KOT him.
Mike, I think you summed it up very well. Excellent assessment and analysis.
Win, lose or draw, Del Boy will be hell for Usyk. He has never ducked a challenge and has fought all the best heavyweights.
Del Boy will be Usyks first big test, but I think Usyk will weather the storm and win a close decision.
A very intriguing point about Usyk is the high praise Vlad Klitschko gave him and he was the only fighter, if I’m not mistaken, that Vlad would close off their sparring sessions to the public. My hunch is Vlad had trouble with him….to whatever degree we don’t know. Some cruisers have carried power to heavyweight ie David Haye, holy field etc. I wouldn’t be shocked if Usyk surpassed Hayes victory over Chisora. Steve Cunningham knocked down fury…..wouldn’t be shocked if Usyk was able to do more than that. I’m excited to see what he does…..my biggest concern is if he’s able to avoid injury.
All Usyk does is stick and move. Yeah he’ll probably win but the way he fights will not endear him to the fight fan once more people get to know him. To me he’s not exiting so I would never pay to watch him box.
Watch his fights vs. Tony Bellew or Mairis Briedism