Can Usyk’s Skill Defeat Tyson Fury? Experts Predict Heavyweight Clash In Saudi Arabia

 

The mammoth WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, standing at 6'9", is predicted by Eddie Hearn to be 'too big' for IBF/WBA/WBO champ Oleksandr Usyk in their upcoming undisputed championship fight on February 17th.  Hearn's prediction aligns with the consensus among most experts who believe that Fury, weighing over 270 lbs with his colossal brontosaurus-like frame, holds a significant size advantage over the former undisputed cruiserweight champion Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) as they clash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

While size is a crucial factor, Hearn raises a pertinent question about Fury's recent performance against boxing novice Francis Ngannou in October, pondering if it indicates a decline or inadequate preparation on the 35-year-old Fury's part. Fury is at an age where many fighters start exhibiting signs of being past their prime, and his appearance suggests an older demeanor than his chronological age.

Fury's tendency to let his weight fluctuate significantly between fights is an additional concern. Having to shed excess pounds, resembling a large spare tire each time he enters the ring, can potentially contribute to an accelerated aging effect on the fighter.

Even more concerning is the lack of quality opposition that Fury has encountered in the last eight years of his professional career. If one closely examines Fury's opponents since his significant victory against 40-year-old Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, it becomes apparent that he has faced few opponents with genuine talent, excluding Deontay Wilder.

QUALITY OF TYSON'S OPPOSITION 

Beyond Fury's triumph over an unskilled and one-dimensional Deontay Wilder, the list of Tyson's victories since 2015 includes:

- Francis Ngannou

- Dereck Chisora

- Dillian Whyte

- Otto Wallin

- Tom Schwarz

- Sefer Seferi

- Francesco Pianeta

Fury's competition has been notably subpar since defeating the aged Wladimir, yet this seems to escape the attention of fans, promoters, and the media. One cannot ignore Fury's resume and avoid the conclusion that his entire career may be built on smoke and mirrors, with excessive emphasis placed on his win over an aging 40-year-old Wladimir.

Unless one is detached from reality, burying their head in the sand, and utterly clueless, it's unavoidable to acknowledge that Fury has faced mostly unproven and marginal opposition. His age further complicates matters, making it challenging for him against a talented opponent like Usyk, who boasts better wins on his record.

It was the result of promoter trickery that led fans to believe Fury was a genuine force in boxing. Contrary to the perceptions of some, he never matched the skill level attributed to him, evident in his lackluster performance against boxing novice Francis Ngannou. Fury was essentially a fabricated entity, carefully presented through strategic matchmaking.

In contrast, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist Usyk boasts a far superior resume, having faced significantly stronger opposition throughout his professional career. The disparity between their achievements is unmistakable.

Usyk's notable victories include:

- Anthony Joshua (twice)

- Daniel Dubois

- Dereck Chisora

- Mairis Briedis

- Murat Gassiev

- Krzysztof Głowacki

- Tony Bellew

- Michael Hunter

- Marco Huck

- Thabiso Mchunu

As the undisputed heavyweight championship bout between WBC champion Tyson Fury and IBF, WBA & WBO champ Oleksandr Usyk approaches on February 17th, Eddie Hearn shares his perspective: 'I think Tyson Fury wins the fight. It all depends on what we saw in the [Francis] Ngannou fight [last October]. Was it him not taking it seriously, or if it was him in decline, then he’s going to have a tough night against Usyk.'

The Ngannou fight revealed not only the impact of physical aging but also shattered the illusion that Fury was the fighter naive boxing fans initially believed him to be. He emerged as a big fighter who happened to face an aging Wladimir at the end of his career, without his trainer Emanuel Steward, who had passed away in 2012.

Since the victory over Klitschko, Fury has failed to secure significant wins. Deontay, largely considered an unskilled fighter relying on a single potent punch, stands as Fury's most notable post-Klitschko conquest. Other than Deontay, Fury has not defeated any formidable opponents after the win over the 40-year-old Wladimir. Notably, he even lost to John McDermott and arguably deserved to lose his initial encounter with Wilder.

“I think he’s [Fury] going to be too big in that fight. If he’s switched on and trained properly, which you’d expect him to do and be, I expect him to be, but you can’t rule out Oleksandr Usyk,” Hearn acknowledged Usyk's prowess, drawing on historical evidence from witnessing him defeat his leading heavyweight, Anthony Joshua, on two occasions.

“It’s a tremendous heavyweight fight, another massive fight in Saudi Arabia, and great for the heavyweight division and great for boxing that we’re seeing that undisputed fight,” said Hearn about the Usyk vs. Fury four-belt championship.

- Vladimir Krull