With a few months remaining until their December rematch, WBA, WBC, and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has resolved not to take things easy with Tyson Fury when they meet again. 

The Ukrainian made this in response to Fury’s claims from weeks ago that the reason why he lost their fight in May was because he found it “too easy” and was having too much fun, particularly towards the end of the bout. 

According to Usyk, the next fight will be hard for Fury, even though he could see in his opponent’s eyes that things weren’t as easy as he would later claim. He made this known while speaking with SkyNews reporters on Thursday, who told him what Fury had said earlier. 

He said: “Oh my god, no way! Okay, no problem. The next fight will be easy [for him too]. For me, my fight will be hard because Tyson Fury is a big man, a good boxer, with a good boxing IQ.

“But if Tyson says it will be easy for him, okay, no problem. I see for Tyson Fury, I see for the eyes of Tyson Fury, it’s not easy. It will be hard, very, very hard. Tyson, don’t be afraid – I will not leave you alone.”

Usyk also offered some defense for the referee who officiated the May match, who many accused of coming to Fury’s rescue when Usyk would have knocked him out in the ninth round. Usyk maintained that the referee was professional in discharging his duties and that nothing else mattered as long as he won.

He also took some shots at people who accused him of using an inhaler during the fight, which is an illegal thing to do. While it may have looked like he was using an inhaler, what he was actually doing was kissing the crucifix attached to a chain on his neck. 

This time around, speaking to reporters attached to Boxing King Media, he said: “Stupid people,” referring to people making the claims. “Listen, I never used any substance. Never. I’m clean. The cross, it’s my doping. My belief is my doping. Jesus, my family, my team, my country – this my doping.”