Teddy Atlas explains why 'Deontay Wilder is a risk for Oleksandr Usyk'

Oleksandr Usyk has this week again justified the apparent selection of Deontay Wilder as his next and last opponent. Yet Teddy Atlas, the hall of famer with vast knowledge of heavyweight history, has advised the veteran to do something entirely different.

The 39-year-old, surely destined to join Atlas in Canastota, all but retired from top-level competition in June when, a month after beating the 1-1 (1 KO) Rico Verhoeven in 11 unexpectedly gruelling rounds, he relinquished his three heavyweight titles. Though he promised a ‘last dance’, Usyk recognizes that the end of his great career is nigh.

Usyk has earned the right to conclude his career as he pleases. Yet Atlas, who has seen countless greats fight for too long, hopes the 25-0 (16 KOs) Ukrainian will simply walk away now even though 40-year-old Wilder, 45-4-1 (43 KOs), is certainly not the fighter he once was.

“There is always an amount of risk,” Atlas told CanadaCasino of the projected Usyk-Wilder showdown. “Anytime you get in a ring, there’s risk. Wilder is long, he’s tall, he’s a heavyweight and he can punch with the right hand. Usyk is getting older. He had 300 amateur fights. He hasn’t taken a lot of punishment, but he has taken some, and as you get older, there is always risk.

“At this point in Wilder’s career, he is not the threat he used to be. There is still always the possibility that he lands a big right hand and Usyk gets old. Those possibilities are still there. But as far as what is more likely, it is not as likely as it used to be. I don’t see it as quite the danger it used to be.

“I don’t see it as the attraction it used to be either. 

“But all I want for Usyk is to do something not every great fighter has been able to pull off. Walk off into the sunset at your best. Walk off whole, healthy, and with the memory that we deserve to have about you. The great Joe Louis couldn’t do it. The great Muhammad Ali couldn’t do it. I’d like to see Usyk do that. I think it’s time to do it. It’s not for Teddy Atlas to choose that time, it’s for Usyk to choose that time, but I think he’s starting to choose it. I would be happy if he does.”

Usyk, who is a two-time undisputed champion at heavyweight after cleaning up at cruiserweight, must be getting tired of justifying his choice to have one last bout. After beating each of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois on two occasions, it could be argued that only Wilder is required to complete the set from his era.

“This is a man who in the last 10 years is a top fighter,” Usyk told All Out Fighting of his decision to fight the former WBC champion.

“He’s a great champion. He is still a dangerous guy. I’m not boxing for glory or credit.

“For me, this is just my life.”