Oleksandr Usyk discusses PED’s, Deontay Wilder, life at heavyweight

During a closed session discussion, Oleksandr Usyk discussed PED’s in boxing, Deontay Wilder’s recent comments, and life as a heavyweight.

Oleksandr Usyk (16-0, 12 KOs) might be the best cruiserweight in history, but he’s looking for a new challenge as a heavyweight. He’s already seeing that his path to conquest isn’t going to be easy.

On Saturday, Oct. 12, Usky makes his heavyweight debut against Chazz Witherspoon (38-3, 29 KOs). It was supposed to be against the undefeated Tyrone Spong (14-0, 13 KOs).

Shortly after touching down in Chicago for fight week, Usyk, Eddie Hearn, and the rest of his team learned from VADA that Spong tested positive for the banned substance clomiphene, which is often used as a testosterone booster when used in small doses.

Last second positive PED tests are something that Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing are used to. It was just six months ago that Jarrell Miller tested positive for a litany of PEDs less than two months before his June bout with Anthony Joshua.

The result of Andy Ruiz Jr. standing in as the substitute opponent is history considering the scale of his upset over Joshua in June. Witherspoon is now thrust in the role of Ruiz, but his chances of success against Usyk are even dimmer.

Regardless of the outcome of Usyk vs. Witherspoon, PEDs are having a destructive impact on boxing. VADA is the organization unveiling attempted fraudulent actions, but how many boxers that aren’t being tested by VADA are competing while dirty?

In a closed session discussion with FanSided and other reporters, Usyk discussed how PEDs are rampant and tainting the sport.

"It looks like we’re going that way where testing is gonna be done [where] the whole system, the whole sport is going to be cleaned up from the dirty guys. It’s not fair. Some guys are working hard, dying, preparing in the gym. And somebody else just trying to take a shortcut. They want to have a pill and right after it, they’re thinking they’re gonna get strong and ready. It’s like in the movies where you can take the red pill like in The Matrix, and become strong."

Outside of an opponent change and last-second drama, the heavyweight division is voicing their opinions of Usyk’s move from cruiserweight to heavyweight.

While talking to Sky Sports about Usyk, WBC heavyweight champion Wilder said, “Oleksandr Usyk is not a threat to me. He’s too small for me. He does a lot of movement and stuff like that, but that don’t faze me.”

FanSided asked Usyk about Wilder’s critique.

“I really don’t care what he’s [Wilder] saying,” responded Usyk. “I really don’t care what he’s thinking. Actually, I like it that he’s talking about me because it means I’m already into his head. He’s a champion and knows what it takes. For me, it really doesn’t matter, but I like that he’s thinking about me.”

Usyk makes his first statement as a heavyweight on Saturday, Oct. 12, against Witherspoon live on DAZN. He’s optimistic that he’s going to have the same success as a heavyweight that he had while cleaning out the cruiserweight division.

“I seeing [sic] everything the same as it was at cruiserweight,” said Usyk.

“Now that I’ve come to heavyweight, I want to see the same thing.”