Shannon Briggs has told Deontay Wilder directly that he believes the former WBC champion will knock out Oleksandr Usyk with his right hand, and that talks between the two camps have reportedly restarted after stalling earlier in the year.
Briggs spoke in a clip captured by ES News, offering his advice on how to approach the matchup.
He’s gonna fight Usyk and I’m rooting for him. He deserves the fight because he’s fought so many fights and defended his title so many times. I want you to win that fight. You are going to do your thing. I know you are going to pull it off, too, with that right hand you got. Listen champ, just line him up, line him up. Hit them on top of the head. He’s gonna come like this in the southpaw stance and he don’t leave much open. But, with that right hand you got, right down the middle — you’re gonna do it.
Usyk vacated the WBC, IBF, and WBA titles last week but confirmed he is not retiring immediately, targeting one final fight with the US as the preferred location. Wilder’s team has said they are open to the fight. Usyk is also reportedly considering a crossover bout with former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Wilder is coming off a points win over Derek Chisora in Manchester.
