Deontay Wilder is a daunting man to fight and according to him, Oleksandr Usyk was unwilling to take up the challenge.

‘The Bronze Bomber’ is arguably the hardest puncher in heavyweight boxing history, so it’s understandable fellow boxers would want to avoid facing him.

Wilder wanted to take Usyk’s titles from him but never got the chance

And Wilder claims that the current unified WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Usyk denied his request to fight three times.

“I would love to have that fight, I mean I tried to get that fight three times and he denied me, so…” Wilder told Boxing News with a chuckle.

“He don’t know what I know, but I know what he don’t know.

“But, again, I am one of those fighters that people will try to avoid as long as possible because I have NyQuil.

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“My new nickname is Dr Sleep, as it’s been titled in magazines. I’m going to be introduced as the Bronze Bomber, aka. Dr Sleep.

“When you have a name like that and people see it with their own eyes over and over and over and over.

“Look, most of these guys on this cards, I have more knockouts than they have wins and when it’s like that, you know, respect is demanded up in the room.

“So, I get it, I’m highly respected and when it’s like that a lot of these guys don’t want to face me, especially when you’re a champion.

Wilder faces Parker as part of the Day of Reckoning card in Saudi Arabia

Wilder faces Parker as part of the Day of Reckoning card in Saudi ArabiaCredit: Getty
“Because you look at it as like, this could be the end of my career, and/or, my titles are going to get taken away from me.

“So, I don’t really have an opportunity or time to make the presence of the money that I want to do.”

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Instead of fighting Wilder, Usyk will be taking on Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight world titles on February 17 in Saudi Arabia.

And Wilder has a challenge of his own to overcome on Saturday night, as he is set to clash with former WBO heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker.

After that, the expectation is that Wilder will battle it out with Anthony Joshua, who also fights in Saturday night against Otto Wallin, on a card billed ‘The Day of Reckoning’.

talkSPORT will bring you live radio commentary as Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder face a ‘Day of Reckoning’ in an historic boxing show in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night. Our coverage will begin at 8pm on talkSPORT2 before switching over to talkSPORT for the main card from 9pm.