Tyson Fury snubs Oleksandr Usyk when naming toughest opponent

Tyson Fury does not view Oleksandr Usyk as his toughest opponent, despite the fact the Ukrainian is the only boxer to have defeated him, with the Gypsy King picking Deontay Wilder instead

Oleksandr Usyk may be the only fighter to have ever beaten Tyson Fury, but the Gypsy King does not believe he is the toughest opponent he has ever stepped in the ring with.

That tag goes to former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, who Fury faced in a memorable trilogy of fights between 2018 and 2021. Fury controversially drew with Wilder in their first contest, incredibly surviving two vicious knockdowns as the fight went all 12 rounds.

He then stopped Wilder in their next two fights to claim the WBC title and set up a chance to become the undisputed heavyweight king. However, Fury came up short when he fought Usyk for the WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles back in May. He is looking to avenge that loss in a rematch against Usyk in December, but does not think the Ukrainian is his toughest opponent. "I'm gonna have to say Wilder," Fury said in an interview to promote the new boxing video game Undisputed.

"When I fought Wilder he was in his prime, he was the man to beat and he was a dynamite puncher. One mistake and it's over in any round, round one or round 12. From maybe 2007, me and Wilder had a pact together.

"We met in Sheffield at one of the boxing fights on Channel 5 and we always said that we'll talk up a good fight and we'll have a good fight for the championship down the line. He was always my target, but I used to look at him and think, 'wow'. "I'd see him hit people and their legs would be shaking, out cold on the floor. They're terrifying knockouts. The highlight reel knockouts that he has are up there with anybody's, if not the best.

"Going in there with him I never once thought about going to sleep or getting hit by them punches, I just thought I'll box and do what I got to do. I always do. I never really think, 'well I'll keep my hands up for this one'. "My hands have been down behind my back for the majority of my career and they will continue to be there. Unfortunately, that's just the way I am and if I'm going to get punched in the face then so be it. I've had plenty in the face before."