Wilder dismisses heavyweight debutant Usyk as 'too small'

Deontay Wilder says Oleksandr Usyk is "no threat" to him as the Ukrainian is "too small" to be a major heavyweight force.

Cruiserweight king Usyk will face Chazz Witherspoon in his first heavyweight fight in Chicago on Saturday.

Usyk this week stated a bout with Wilder is the one he wants most, but the WBC champion does not believe the 32-year-old is big enough to ruffle feathers in the heavyweight division.

"He's not a threat to me," the American told Sky Sports. "He's too small for me. He does a lot of movement but that doesn't faze me."

Wilder warned his rivals he is becoming a better fighter as he prepares to face Luis Ortiz in Las Vegas on November 23, with a rematch against Tyson Fury potentially to come next February.

When asked who his biggest threat is, Wilder said: "Myself. I have something that I've been blessed with. It lasts from the first to the 12th - it never goes away.

Self Explanatory The King Is Back!!! #BombZquad pic.twitter.com/bahLxgX0Ma

— Deontay Wilder (@BronzeBomber) October 3, 2019

"People may think I'm fatigued or out of it but, if you get hit, there are repercussions to be paid. It's amazing because I don't even know the strength of my own power.

"I hold my fiancee's hand and she says, 'Baby, you're squeezing me too tight'. I am very heavy-handed.

"I'm only getting better with my technique. One thing, out of everything, that I've been working on is my technique. From point A to point B with speed.

"The speed is the power but I already have the power. So when all that comes together, when lightning and power transfers from point A to point B? Bam, baby. Goodnight."