As we move closer to an official announcement for Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk to contest the undisputed heavyweight world championship, Tony Bellew has changed his mind about who he thinks will win.
The fight is probably the most important one that can happen in boxing right now, and luckily for the fans, it looks like it will. Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, recently announced that it will ‘100%’ take place on April 29, but the location has yet to be decided between the Middle East (most likely) and the UK.
Former world champion cruiser, Bellew, faced Usyk in the final match before retiring. He was knocked out in the round of 16, one last 200lb win for the Ukrainian before he started his heavyweight campaign, went on to win unified titles from Anthony Joshua and put him in this position now.
With experience in the ring, Bellew changed her prediction for the undisputed match. He broke it for JOE.
“I’ve always thought Fury would be too big, but the closer this comes, the more I’m actually on Usyk’s side. I think Usyk is the only one who can beat him.
What I will say about Tyson Fury is that, since his association with SugarHill, his style has evolved tremendously. He is no longer a feathered fist fighter. He’s a heavy-handed, counter-attacking puncher.
I think it’s one of the best transformations I’ve ever seen in a boxer… I always thought he was going to be a really big, clumsy heavyweight and a fighting nightmare, but now he’s a big, clumsy, dangerous heavyweight.”
Bellew now reckons Usyk is the one who can beat Fury – the only one – and believes size will benefit him more than the British, a stark contrast to many predictions.
“The only problem is, with such weight and size, he will always be one step behind Oleksandr Usyk… Usyk has the greatest footwork in the world. His feet are special.
“I understand the theory of Fury being the favorite, but if anyone is going to beat him, it would be Oleksandr Usyk because he’s fast enough to rush in and out all night. He’s healthy enough. He’s sharp enough. take [Fury’s] quote, the hardest person he ever pushed was Steve Cunningham, a cruiser that dropped him.
If you think Steve Cunningham’s style is tough, wait until you’re in the ring with mate Oleksandr Usyk.
The picks for Usyk are less than the picks for Fury, and he will likely enter the ring as the underdog – which doesn’t dampen his confidence.
