Via Barry Holbrook: Peter Fury rates IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk as a more all-rounder than former two-time champion Wladimir Klitschko during his career.
Klitschko (64-5, 53 KOs) dominated the heavyweight division from 2004 to 2015 when he was finally dethroned by Tyson Fury at the age of 39. Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) is versatile and has “versatile, Peter noted.
Although Usyk, 35, may not be at the top of the table for as long as Wladimir, he could still leave a big legacy if he defeats Fury, Deontay Wilder and Joe Joyce before he retires.
WBC champ Fury could face Usyk in the first quarter of the year, depending on whether his battered elbow heals quickly enough.
Fury mentioned being injured following his win over Derek Chisora on December 3, and at the time it was unclear whether he would need surgery.
Usyk is more comprehensive than Klitschko
“Klitschko fought like a big man should; they were great warriors in their day, but he was more of a well-rounded pack than Usyk. He punches; he rolls with them, he sneaks in – he has all the skills in the world,” Peter Fury told Sports sky about Oleksandr Usyk.
“He doesn’t just master one skill set and stick with it; This guy has a lot of gears in his closet and can turn the temperature up and down. He ticked all the boxes,” said Peter.
Will the fight between Fury and Usyk happen next?
“Usyk does not have a temporary war. Apparently Tyson Fury did that on December 3, on that cold night at Spurs,” Gareth A. Davies told talkSPORT Boxing. “You never know. Usyk might suddenly say, ‘I’m not sure. I might want to adjust before fighting Tyson Fury.’ He may not.
“Tyson mentioned a hand injury. He mentioned it to me in the evening, so who knows what’s going on behind the scenes. They might be looking at splits, site fees and all that.
“I think they are looking at the overall site fee for it [Fury vs. Usyk]. They want that money to come first. It’s very quiet in the Middle East, but again, Bob Arum and Frank Warren don’t talk as much and may not be as available as Eddie Hearn when he always talks about those things openly.
“Like I said, we need some sort of solution over the next week, otherwise we could hear different sounds and maybe a different location,” said Davies.
