Provodnikov: "If Usyk had added speed and power like Tyson, he would have been an unbeatable machine"

Former super lightweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov of Russia shared his expectations of the fight between WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua and mandatory WBO title challenger Oleksandr Usyk.

"I don't follow, but I am extremely impressed with Usyk as a person and a talented boxer. He's making his history and he doesn't care what anybody says. I'm not going to make any predictions but I'll be rooting for Alexander.

"About the heavyweight it is hard to say, but for our weight class it is a huge difference when a boxer puts on the scales 63 kilos, and in the fight he puts on another seven kilos. I don't think it's that noticeable in the heavyweight division. It seems to me that speed will play a role. Usyk would have to add speed and power, like Mike Tyson. With his talented, skillful, intelligent boxing he would be an unbeatable machine," Provodnikov said.

Joshua vs Usyk fight will take place on September 25 at Tottenham Hotspur Arena in London.