Oleksandr Usyk names Brit as hardest puncher over Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua
Undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk snubbed Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua when asked which opponent has the hardest punch
Oleksandr Usyk has named the hardest puncher he's ever faced, and it's not Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua. The honour, perhaps surprisingly, goes to Derek Chisora, whom Usyk described as "a very tough guy".
The revelation comes following Usyk's stunning split decision victory over Fury which saw him crowned the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world last month.
The undefeated Ukrainian, 37, took a couple heavy hits early on in the bout, including one to the jaw, but quickly turned the tide and very nearly knocked Fury out in the ninth round.
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After the fight, Usyk suspected he had a broken jaw. His manager, Egis Klimas told the 3 Knockdown Rule podcast: "[Usyk] explained it to me. [He told me] when I got an uppercut in the sixth round, it was such a big pain I can explain it only one way - it felt like the tooth had come out.
"After the fight I grabbed him to congratulate him and he was like [*stiffens his face*] 'Ah, my face hurts'."
When asked if Fury was the toughest opponent he'd ever faced, Usyk agreed, but stopped short of naming him the hardest puncher.
"I have lots of respect for Tyson Fury. He's a very good fighter. He's a very great man. But he's my opponent. He's very smart in what he does, blah blah blah... he's trying [to put his opponent off]," Usyk added.
"It was toughest fight, yes. But in terms of the hardest punch, I think no. Because Derek Chisora [has the hardest punch]. He's a very tough guy."
Usyk faced Chisora back in 2020 ahead of his double header against Joshua. He failed to knock the Zimbabwe-born Brit out but outclassed him to seal a relatively straightforward victory via unanimous decision.
Usyk is scheduled to face Fury in a rematch in Saudi Arabia on December 21 later this year. Victory last month meant Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis achieved the feat in 1999 by beating Evander Holyfield.
Meanwhile, the defeat was the first Fury's career, and one he'll be desperate to avenge in six months' time.
