OLEKSANDR USYK has officially joined the big-hitters after reaching 16st 5lbs as he sent a chilling message to the rest of the heavyweight division.
Usyk was the undisputed cruiserweight king before he moved up to heavyweight, where he has won twice.
He is currently Anthony Joshua’s mandatory challenger, but with the Watford star instead set for a bumper undisputed title decider against Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia, he will instead will fight for the interim belt.
And the man lined up for Usyk is undefeated Joe Joyce – who was beaten by masterful Ukrainian southpaw in the amateurs.
AJ and Fury are both still in the star’s sights as he looks to conquer the heavyweight division – and he has now shown everyone that he is up to that task.
Usyk posed for a video of himself topless in the gym on social media before climbing on to the scales to reveal his weight as 105kg.
He then produced a bicep pose as a big grin appeared across his face before he sent out a menacing message to his new big boy rivals.
The 34-year-old said: “What’s up heavyweight? I’m here.”
Meanwhile, Fury has cast doubt on Usyk as he backed his fellow Brit Joyce to gain revenge in the pros and run through the London 2012 Olympic Games gold medalist.
The Gypsy King, 32, told Behind The Gloves: “Easy, Joyce stopping him. I don’t think Usyk is the big threat everyone once thought he was a few years ago.
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“When he was a cruiserweight, he was good. He’s had two fights at heavyweight and struggled in both of them, really.
“He didn’t look great against Chazz Weatherspoon, Weatherspoon was out the ring years and years and years.
“And he didn’t look good against Chisora. I thought Chisora nicked a draw to be honest. So yeah, he didn’t look great.
“And I think big Joe will walk through him, be like a middleweight versus a super-heavyweight and I fancy big Joe to nail him.”
Usyk, 34, became Joshua’s mandatory challenger as soon as he moved up to heavyweight, per a ruling by the WBO.
But he will have to settle for the interim strap for now, which promises him a title shot or the chance to inherit it if the belt becomes vacant despite talks stalling with the 35-year-old.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
