By Philemon Amos

Evander Holyfield, the former world heavyweight champion, holds the belief that British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua possesses greater skill compared to his American counterpart Deontay Wilder.Evander Holyfield emerged as a boxing superstar in the 1990s, accomplishing the remarkable feat of becoming the sole pugilist to secure undisputed championships in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions during the era when there were three major championship belts.With a December tournament in Saudi Arabia reportedly set to feature bouts between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, as well as Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder, the 60-year-old Holyfield believes that both former champions are closely matched. However, he leans towards Joshua as the more skillful fighter, making their potential matchup an intriguing spectacle.Speaking to SunSport, Holyfield expressed his view on the two fighters, stating that both Wilder and Joshua are talented in their own right. He acknowledged Wilder’s speed but emphasized that Joshua possesses superior skills. Holyfield highlighted the dynamic nature of boxing, acknowledging that in this sport, there are various ways for one fighter to emerge victorious.Holyfield further commented on the significance of resilience in boxing, noting that while skill is important, the ability to endure and come back after taking hits plays a crucial role. He emphasized that fighters who can withstand challenges often have the capacity to retaliate later in the match. He expressed anticipation for an engaging and captivating fight between Joshua and Wilder.

In addition, Holyfield offered advice to Usyk, who, like himself, achieved the distinction of winning titles in two weight divisions. He empathized with Usyk’s disappointment in not securing a legacy-defining fight with Fury, indicating his understanding of the significance such a bout holds for a boxer’s career.Despite the challenges, there remains optimism that the champion pair, referring to Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, can reach an agreement to unify the belts before the year concludes. There is hope that both parties will engage in negotiations and find a way to make the highly anticipated bout happen within the given timeframe.Holyfield, drawing from his own experience of overcoming size disadvantages in the ring, offered insights for Usyk, who will face the towering 2.06m Tyson Fury. He advised Usyk to stay close to his opponent, utilizing his quick hands and throwing a high volume of punches. Holyfield, being smaller in stature himself, believed that his advantage in throwing more punches gave him an edge in fights against larger opponents. He also mentioned his ability to fight both on the inside and outside, providing different looks to confuse his opponents.

Usyk, at 36 years old, maintains an unbeaten record in 20 fights and is widely regarded as one of the pound-for-pound best, holding unified WBA, IBF, and WBO belts.

Holyfield addressed the reluctance of other fighters to face Usyk, attributing it to his smaller size and formidable skills. He noted that when a smaller fighter is not as skilled, everyone wants to fight them, but in Usyk’s case, his speed, punch volume, and overall ability make him a challenging opponent. While Fury may not be worried about facing Usyk and is willing to fight him, Holyfield acknowledged that Usyk’s skills would still pose a significant challenge.