The heavyweight clash between WBC champion Tyson Fury and unified champion Oleksandr Usyk is finally happening on May 18th. This undisputed heavyweight championship fight is what boxing fans have been waiting for eagerly. The bout, which was initially scheduled for December last year, has now been delayed twice due to injuries suffered by Fury.
Moreover. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman believes the stakes are so high that the usual three-judge system isn’t enough; he’s proposing a larger panel to score this historic bout. Amidst all the hype surrounding the fight, Tyson Fury talked about how he would ‘cripple’ his opponent to become the next undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
Tyson Fury reveals plan to counter Usyk’s head movement
In an interview with BoxNation, Tyson Fury was asked whether he would be able to “destroy” Oleksandr Usyk. The ‘Gypsy King’ answered the question by listing out the differences between their physical attributes and how it would work to his advantage. The most obvious one is the reach. He talked about how he’d utilize his 86-inch reach to box on the outside and keep himself out of Usyk’s crosshairs. He implied that his style of fighting is tailor-made for a boxer like Usyk. The Mancunian also seems to have the answer to Ukrainian’s much-vaunted head movement. “He moves his head like that, the body don’t move. So, move your head, I will cripple you to the body.”
In addition to this, Fury said, “I know I can take his punches at 210 lbs, whatever he is. But he won’t stand up all night to a 270-guy, who’s banging out with him, who’s got stamina to burn, for sail, by the way. And who can box all night at any pace. I’ll hammer him, with the reputation he’s got through beating Joshua, I think it’ll be a sweet victory.”
Safe to say, Fury has his battle plan ready for Usyk. Furthermore, the 35-year-old boxer understands the seriousness of the undisputed clash, and for that reason, he doesn’t want to postpone it once again.
Fury is ready for a “bloody” fight
Fears of another postponement loom over the anticipated heavyweight showdown. The latest setback came as a result of a “freak cut” above Fury’s right eye sustained during sparring, prompting the postponement of the matchup just 15 days before the scheduled bout. However, Tyson Fury has since quelled concerns of further postponement.
During his appearance at the “Knockout chaos” event, Fury told DAZN, “It is healing good. I am not concerned. I never was concerned about the cut. From cut date to fight date was 15 weeks. A cut heals in about eight or nine weeks so I had plenty of time and if the cut opens in the fight, so f*** it!” Furthermore, he continued, “If it opens in the fight, there will be blood everywhere and so what? Don’t stop the fight. Let it continue because it’s an undisputed heavyweight championship fight.”
Now, it remains to be seen whether Fury can execute his strategy against Oleksandr Usyk. Or will Usyk come out on top at the “Ring of Fire” main event? Let us know in the comments section below.
