Usyk: "Don't write Wilder off"

Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs), winner of Anthony Joshua and the new IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion, advises not to write off Deontay Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs) ahead of Saturday's third fight with Tyson Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs).

Their trilogy will be complete in five days. The judges counted a draw in their first fight, and in the rematch twenty months ago, Fury beat Wilder. The American was on the floor in the third and fifth rounds, and the unequal fight was stopped in the seventh round. Nevertheless, Usyk sees the Bronze Bomber as having a chance to win.

"I don't think about who will win, but it will certainly be a pleasure to watch this fight. Don't discount a guy like Wilder, he can knock you out at any time. I'd love to fight whoever gets the WBC belt later on, whether it's Fury or Wilder. I don't play predicting results, I'm not the best at it, but I can assure you that I will have a fantastic dinner tonight," Usyk said.

The winner of the Fury-Wilder III fight will likely be required to fight Dillian Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs), while Usyk will have to rematch Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs). That bout is tentatively set for late February or March.