Promoter Eddie Hearn has backed Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk and Dillian Whyte to defeat Deontay Wilder – but he also gives Wilder a puncher’s chance against all three of them.
Last Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Wilder was knocked out in eleven round by WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury.
Wilder went down three times in the fight – but he also showcased his feared power when he put Fury down, twice, in the fourth round.
Wilder injured his right hand and intends to get surgery next week.
After three fights with Fury, that chapter is now closed and now Wilder will pursue other names in the coming year.
Some possible opponents in the future include Usyk, Joshua and Whyte.
Whyte is facing Otto Wallin on October 30. The winner will become the mandatory challenger to Fury.
Usyk, who last month outboxed Joshua to capture the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO world titles, will face the British superstar in a rematch in the early months of 2022.
Because of his power, Hearn would not rule out the possibility of Wilder scoring knockouts.
“Whyte would do exactly the same to Wilder that Fury did, in terms of being too big and strong, but could also get KO’d,” Hearn told IFL TV.
“AJ, too sharp, too good a technician, but could also get KO’d. Usyk would school Wilder, but could also get KO’d.”
Wilder, 35, suffered a broken hand in his ill-fated bid to reclaim the WBC title and is set to undergo surgery next week.