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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Donagh Corby

Tyson Fury dismisses 'tap-dancer' Oleksandr Usyk as less of a threat than Deontay Wilder

Tyson Fury has dismissed Oleksandr Usyk as a "pumped up middleweight" and a 'tap-dancer' while saying he's less of a challenge than Deontay Wilder.

Fury and Usyk hold all of the belts at heavyweight, but the Brit believes that he has already faced the toughest test in the division in his trilogy with the heavy-hitting Wilder.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has accused Fury of not wanting to fight Usyk after a deal was tabled earlier this year to pay step aside money to both of their challengers Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte.

But he has dismissed the Ukrainian as a threat, insisting that he is too small and doesn't hit hard enough to be a legitimately dangerous heavyweight.

Asked if he was a tougher fight than Wilder by Dubai Eye 103.8, Fury replied: "Hell no, are you joking?

Tyson Fury has taken another shot at Oleksandr Usyk (Top Rank via Getty Images)

"You've got the most powerful puncher in the history of our sport, and what's the other one going to do? Tap dance around the ring and run away from me tip, tip, tip tip?

"He didn't do any damage at all to Anthony Joshua and he definitely ain't doing any damage to a man like me."

Fury believes that the size will prove too much for Usyk, who was previously the undisputed cruiserweight champion with wins over the likes of Mairis Briedis and Tony Bellew before moving up.

And to Fury's point, the Ukrainian's first two fights at the weight weren't glowing performances; stopping Chazz Witherspoon before labouring to a tight win over Derek Chisora.

"I'll obliterate him," Fury added. "He's a cruiserweight - no, he's a pumped up middleweight!

"He was a middleweight in the amateurs; 75kg, I was a super-heavyweight at 11-years-old."

Fury is currently in Dubai touring a number of gyms as he prepares for his mandatory title defence against Whyte which is slated for April.

Contracts are reportedly out for the pair to meet, with April 23 at a UK stadium expected to be the timing and location for the fight.

Who wins if they ever fight; Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk? Let us know your prediction in the comments section below!

Fury is a heavy favourite to beat Whyte in what will be his first fight back in the UK since his trilogy with Wilder began and he signed a big-money deal to fight in America on ESPN.

The bout will be a pay-per-view event with tens of thousands in attendance, but Fury believes that he will easily be able to handle his former training partner.

He explained that his gameplan would be "Whatever I feel like on the night really,", before adding: "I don't pay these bums too much attention.

"Whatever I feel like on the night, any style, I can definitely beat Whyte.

"Even if I put one hand behind my back and one foot off the floor, I'll still beat him."

Meanwhile, Usyk's rematch with Joshua will likely take place a few weeks later, and the winners will face one another fir the undisputed title in their next outings.

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