Former heavyweight fighter (over 90.7 kg), and now the coach of former US champion Deontay Wilder (42-2-2, 41 KOs) Malik Scott gave
interview for a news portal from the USA.
Malik has already spent more than one training camp with Ukrainian unified champion Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) and, according to Usyk’s promoter Oleksandr Krasyuk, was a very valuable training camp asset for a rematch with former British champion Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KO). Scott gave his prediction and commented on Wilder’s possible meeting with the participants of today’s heavyweight rematch.
– I believe that you chose Usyk as the winner before the first fight with Joshua?
– Yes.
Are you choosing him again?
Yes, I choose it again. More active boxing will come from Joshua, but I think it will work against Joshua. So I’m betting on Usyk winning by knockout between the ninth and eleventh rounds.
– Do you think Usyk thinks that Joshua is predictable, that he will try to work on the body with Garcia, and he will counterattack hard to the head?
– And there is. That’s for sure. Even paying tribute to the entire Garcia family, but he specializes in going forward and being very active on the front foot.
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Everyone says Joshua will do it.
– Undoubtedly. When you put it all together, Joshua says “My mindset is kill, kill, kill!”, he hired Garcia – they will only go forward. They will be very active on the front leg and I just believe that with someone like Usyk, who is very, very good at fighting the big guys, it will work against Joshua. As I said, I bet on an early victory for Usyk between 8-9 and 11 rounds.
Joshua will try to impose his advantages more, but it will work against him. Usyk will make him stretch and will teach him a lot. So it will be good. But it’s all good for the division.
– What would be your plan for the fight against Usyk, without taking into account Deontay Wilder? After all, with him the plan will obviously be completely different.
– My plan will be the same for everyone – to create a comfortable environment.
– Do you think that Deontay Wilder would have got Usyk, even despite his head movements and feints? Could he reach him and knock him out with his right?
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“I believe that anyone who is clearly hit by Deontay Wilder will be knocked out.
“But do you think he will reach him?”
– You have to understand, he must and will work at a higher pace, because I am the first to say that Oleksandr Usyk, in my opinion, is the most technical and skillful fighter with whom I boxed. And now, looking from the point of view of a coach, and not just a boxer … After all, I was in Dubai and watched him. I taught the guys how to work against him. Because I see things a little differently, but Usyk is the master of the mind in the ring. And at the expense of him and Deontay – if Usyk beats Joshua, then I think there will be a good fight with Deontay. Also Deontay vs Joshua will always be a good fight.
“Even if they fight without belts.
– Undoubtedly. That’s what I want to say. It’s good for the division, however this fight ends. But my responsibility and my job is to train the most dangerous man on the planet, Deontay Wilder, to the highest level of boxing – to be smart, to be precise and to be brutal.
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