Cape Town – Thabiso Mchunu believes undefeated WBO cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk will be the one "with something to prove" when they square off in next week’s title bout in California.
Usyk will be making the first defence of the belt he won from Poland’s Krzysztof Głowacki via unanimous decision in December, in what was the tenth fight and tenth victory of his professional career, and also the first which didn’t via technical knockout (TKO) or knockout (KO).
Mchunu heads into the match with a less impressive professional record of 17 wins and two defeats, but says his experience will give him the edge in the crunch encounter.
“I’ve been there and I’ve fought in the USA before, and every time I’ve fought in the USA I have won,” he said.
“So he has something to prove because it’s his first time fighting in America. He has a point to prove, so he is going to try a lot of things. But he can’t afford to try a lot of things and make mistakes against a guy like me.”
Usyk and Mchunu are set to meet in a 12-round showdown on December 17 at Los Angeles’ The Forum – an arena which has hosted to several historic sporting events, including recent boxing matches featuring star names such as Juan Manuel Márquez, Manny Pacquiao and Gennady Golovkin.
The fight takes place on the undercard of “The Final 1”, an event billed as such because it also features 51-year-old Bernard Hopkins facing off against Joe Smith Junior in what he claims is the final bout of his stellar career.
Usyk, who won heavyweight gold at the 2012 London Olympic Games, holds a 10 centimetre height and 14cm reach advantage over his opponent and heads into the bout as the favourite.
Oleksandr Usyk celebrates his gold medal victory at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The Ukrainian face Durban's Thabiso Mchunu in California on December 17. Photo: Reuters/Damir Sagolj
However, Mchunu says expects to take control of the bout early on and not only hand the Ukranian his first ever defeat, but do so in the early rounds.
“I see myself dominating him (early on) and he’s going to try to respond to that, and every time he tries to respond I’m going to counter punch him,” the 28-year-old said.
“I’m going to be the one who is going to control the fight and I’m either going to get a win on points or stop him. I can’t say I’ll definitely stop him, but if I do I think it will be in the third round. If not I’ll win on points, but I want to win every single round.”
Should his prediction turn out correct, Mchunu will become the first South African to win a WBO title since Corrie Sanders knocked out Wladimir Klitschko in 2003.
“He’s a good boxer and he can box, but he hasn’t fought someone like me. First of all I’m short so it’s going to be hard for him to fight me because I’m short and very awkward. He has never fought anyone with my skills, who is shorter than him and also fast,” Mchunu added.
“I have a very good chance of winning his fight. I’m smart, I have skill and I have speed. I have been there before, so this is just another day for me. He’s a good boxer and good opposition always brings out the best in me.”