Undefeated WBC World Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury challenged the current number 1 pound-for-pound, Oleksandr Usyk, via a trash talk on Twitter last January 18.
“This is the call out,” began Fury, 34. He tagged the handle of Usyk and called him “middleweight.”
“I am coming for you,” continued the boxer. “You know who I am. The Gypsy King. There’s only ever been one.
“Come get some!”
Fury, who is 33-0-1, wants a piece of Usyk (20-0-0), opposing the Russian’s title as the current pound-for-pound in the heavyweight division. Last month, veteran boxing promoter Bob Arum announced that the two champions have already agreed to a match—a fight that will unify all the heavyweight belts.
Usyk currently has the IBF, IBO, WBA Super World, and WBO World belts. Fury, on the other hand, has the WBC World Heavyweight title.
“The two fighters have agreed to fight each other next,” said Arum to Sky Sports. “With Fury and Usyk, we’re dealing with two adults, not a lot of (rubbish) back and forth. Usyk is a good friend of mine, he’s very intelligent, and Tyson is Superman, both as an athlete and an intellect.”
The 91-year-old promoter assured that the match between the two giants would happen in the “first four months” of 2023, with the venue either in Saudi Arabia or in Britain.
But can Fury be Aggressive against Usyk?
Well, he can’t, according to trainer Ben Davison. Fury cannot use his old tactics against a faster, more clever pound-for-pound Usyk.
Davison also believes that although the Russian is not known for his knockout power, he may put Fury to sleep. The Ukrainian must also rely on his mauling and wrestling skills to beat his opponent.
But if Usyk uses his wits when Fury gets close to him, the latter will be in trouble, pointed Davison. He observed that the Russian could resort to “short clubbing shots” whenever the Gypsy King clinches at him.
There is also the antic of Fury, where he throws illegal rabbit punches. If the referee turns a blind eye to these blows, then he can stand a chance at Usyk.
However, if the referee does his job and keeps the fight clean, the Ukrainian will be “in for a long night.”
“It’s not as simple as that because if you recklessly just run at someone and you think, ‘Oh, you’re small.’ He’s not a small guy, Oleksandr Usyk,” said Davison. “He punches hard enough, and with any man that size, he’s capable of hurting someone. So there has to be an element of respect [from Fury]. With someone of that skill set, you can’t just run at someone.”
Will the Fight Happen?
As of this writing, the Fury vs Usyk matchup might not push through unless an incredible offer comes from Saudi. For this not happening will surely upset OKBET players.
The Gypsy King did not agree that their fight would have a 50-50 split if it happened in the United Kingdom. Boxing News described his decision to be “empty” due to his disregard for the matchup being a unification bout.
One reason, said Boxing News, is that Fury can make “boatloads” of money by fighting “mediocre” boxers.
For example, his two recent fights were against British journeymen Derek Chisora & Dillian Whyte, who were both defeated by technical knockout.
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