FORMER WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson has revealed Oleksandr Usyk ‘bossed’ Wladimir Klitschko so much in sparring once, he was told to get out the ring.
The 2012 Olympic gold medallist steps up for his heavyweight debut on Saturday night when he faces Chazz Witherspoon at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
Usyk, 32, vacated his four cruiserweight titles to step up a division as he targets fights against Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
And comments from Nelson suggest the pound-for-pound star is going to be more than capable of holding his own after witnessing him dominate Dr Steelhammer.
The Sky Sports pundit has stated he watched the duo sparring in 2015 ahead of Klitschko's world title defence against the Gyspy King.
Speaking to Behind the Gloves, Nelson said: "I rate Usyk. When I saw him sparring with Wladimir when Wladimir was preparing for Tyson Fury, I said ‘Who is that guy? Who is he?’
"I had no idea, but I know there was something special about him.
"He did one round with Wladimir, and Wladimir slung him out and said, ‘get out, not while the press is here.’
“He was making it hard for Wladimir. He was like bossing Wladimir. ‘Get him out. Get somebody else in'".
Usyk's former foe Tony Bellew believes the Ukrainian could beat Wilder, but would struggle against Joshua and Fury.
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He said: "Wilder [is the easiest to beat among the three choices], and that's an easy answer. Don't get me wrong, if Wilder lands on him then it's not going to end well for Usyk, but you can say that about any heavyweight who Wilder lands on.
“I just think [Joshua and Fury] are too big for him. Fundamentally, he's a much better boxer than all of them, and I include Fury in that, but he's just too small to compete with them for 12 rounds.
“I think the size of Fury and Joshua would be a massive advantage and I don't think Usyk could overcome it.”
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