Tyson Fury vs Oleksander Usyk: Fighting for Undisputed
(via ESPN)
Tyson Fury and Oleksander Usyk will be fighting for the title of Undisputed Heavyweight Champion this Saturday, a title that no man has been able to claim since Lennox Lewis did so in 1999.
Tyson Fury currently holds the WBC Heavyweight Belt while Usyk holds the remaining WBA, WBO, and IBF Titles, making this fight for literally all the marbles.
Both men are undefeated and are very credentialed in their careers. Usyk is coming off of two wins against former champion Anthony Joshua and a knockout win against Daniel Dubois. He has been more active against current heavyweight contenders in comparison to Fury.
Fury on the other hand has come under fire due to his controversial win against former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Francis N’Gannou. Prior to that, he was being talked about as the next great heavyweight in the modern era. His two wins against Deontay Wilder meant much more before Wilder lost to Joseph Parker.
There is a history of animosity between Fury and Usyk, however the animosity during fight week has been largely one sided. Fury was always the aggressor, calling Usyk ugly, a bum and many other derogatory terms. However, Usyk has been the only instigator in the leadup to this fight week. He has evidently turned a rather antagonistic leaf while Fury has remained respectful throughout the week.
In terms of the matchup, Usyk’s speed seems to be the deciding factor in this fight. Regardless of the height or reach advantage that Fury holds over Usyk, the ability to close distance as if they were a middleweight lies with Usyk. Despite the significant reach disadvantage that he has against Fury, his speed may very well be the deciding factor. Activity may also be a factor to consider in this bout. Fury has not fought a legitimate boxing contender since Dillian Whyte in 2022, while Usyk last fought in late August 2023. The exposure to top ranked boxing opponents without taking prospective super fights against champions from different sports may pay to Usyk’s benefit in this fight.
The various factors that go into this bout make it so hard to pick. Will Fury come into this bout far more focused than he did against N’Gannou? Or will Usyk be the fresher fighter who holds an obvious speed advantage and age advantage?
