Oleksandr Usyk reveals list of favourite footballers and shares love for Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney with Tyson Fury
Perhaps Wayne Rooney should host the negotiations for Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury.
The one thing both heavyweights seem to have in common is an admiration of the Manchester United and England legend.
IBF, WBA and WBO champion Usyk, who has played football at professional level, recently revealed his favourite players.
Ex-Chelsea striker and Ukraine hero Andriy Shevchenko was an obvious inclusion, while Rooney was named as Usyk's favourite English star.
But they were both beaten by Argentina legend Gabriel Batistuta when Usyk was pushed to name his No.1 footballer.
He said: "My favourite Ukrainian is Andriy Shevchenko. When I was a boy I adored Gabriel Batistuta. Among English players I admired Wayne Rooney. My final answer - Batistuta."
Usyk is currently in talks with WBC champion Fury over a unification fight in 2023, with all the belts on the line.
Unfortunately for the Ukrainian fighter, we think Rooney will probably be in Fury's corner.
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The former striker was in attendance for the Gypsy King's victory over Dereck Chisora at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December.
“I think he’s the best we’ve seen in a long time, and I don’t think anyone will beat him,” Rooney told talkSPORT post-fight.
“I think he’s an absolute legend for what he’s done for boxing. He’s entertaining, his skills are incredible, his mentality is incredible.
“If I’m being honest, I probably think he should be knighted because he hasn’t been afraid to go abroad, he’s won titles abroad, defended them abroad and he epitomises everything that boxing is.”
Fury is a Manchester United fan and the feeling is mutual. The Englishman even suggested Rooney could be his sparring partner for the Usyk fight.
“Wayne Rooney is a proper legend, and I grew up watching him as a youngster for England and [Manchester] United. So, that’s [an] amazing, amazing speech from him,” Fury told talkSPORT Breakfast.
“He’s a massive boxing fan, he comes from a boxing family as well. So, hopefully, we can have a little spar in the future sometime. I do need someone smaller to prepare for Usyk. Wayne, if you’re listening, get on the blower, son!"