Tyson Fury has been surprisingly complimentary of heavyweight rival Oleksandr Usyk in a new interview.
The ‘Gypsy King’ will look to become the division’s first undisputed world champion in the four-belt era when he touches gloves with Usyk on May 18 in Saudi Arabia.
The build-up so far has seen Fury attempt to lure Usyk into a battle of mind games, and he has regularly mocked his fellow champion’s size by labelling him a ‘middleweight’.
But Fury has now handed surprising credit to Usyk’s achievements, which began as an all conquering amateur before taking over at cruiserweight, with boxing’s glamour division in his sights.
He said during an interview with Queensberry Promotions: “Oleksandr Usyk’s a real bad man and to underestimate Usyk you’d be a mug.
“So I’m training hard for him, I’m doing everything I can.
“I respect Usyk as a man. I respect his career as well – Olympic champion, undisputed cruiserweight champion, unified heavyweight champion.
“You have to respect that, I’m fighting the real deal. I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“He’s got good footwork, good boxing ability, technically sound.
“He’s proved he can mix it with the big heavyweights because he’s beat Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. I’m messing with an elite fighter.”
Fans were stunned by his new stance, with one writing: “Tyson Fury tomorrow will be calling Usyk gappy teeth and a dosser.”
Another wrote: “Well he’s changed his tune.”
One added: “He’s changed his narrative and has been mostly quiet. Finally it seems like Fury is taking it seriously.
“As much as I like Usyk, I think Fury is just too big. Either way, it should be a fun fight.”
He has regularly joked that his upcoming bout with Usyk will be a routine night, though it will likely be anything but given the Ukrainian’s skillset.
Usyk is undefeated in his professional career, and has yet to be beaten at heavyweight since making the switch from cruiserweight in 2019 where he reigned as undisputed champion.
He comfortably outboxed Joshua in their two heavyweight showdowns in September 2021 and August 2022, and will likely provide the sternest examination of Fury’s credentials.
Fury, who has also yet to be defeated, claimed previously that Usyk wouldn’t even be able to inflict defeat on him with a baseball bat.
He said at their press conference in November 2023: “I’ve got nothing to really fear with Oleksandr.
“I think even if he had a baseball bat in one hand and a meat cleaver in the other, he couldn’t really do much to me. I’d still beat him.
“Never mind the size. He’s a middleweight. It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.
