RWe review some of the predictions of professional boxers before the expected fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk which takes place this Saturday in Riyadh (broadcast on DAZN PPV), and in which the four heavyweight belts will be at stake.
George Foreman
“Years ago, when I fought Muhammad Ali, I could have won every round, but I had something else in mind: ‘I’m going to knock out this guy who’s never been knocked out before.’ And my problem was trying to knock out, but Usyk has the temperament to win every round, and that’s it. After each round he will go to his corner, drink some water and receive a brief pep talk. Simply with that he will win rounds. I think she has it. “Tyson Fury has found his rival.”
Zhilei Zhang
“From what I’ve seen, I think they’re both in the best shape of their careers for this fight. I think Tyson will raise his hand in a points decision. I don’t think he trained for the fight against Ngannou, judging by the way he looked in the ring that night, I don’t think he took that fight seriously at all. When you look at Oleksandr Usyk and his fight against Dubois, I remember the body shots and the damage they caused. “A lot of people thought it was a low blow, but I think Tyson Fury will attack that same area of Usyk.”
Bermane Stiverne
“I think Tyson Fury had a bad night against Francis Ngannou and we will see a different fighter against Oleksandr Usyk, and I think he will win the fight. He is the bigger boxer and yet he fights as a middleweight. He is tall, but he moves a lot and “It can be very uncomfortable, so I’m going with Fury.”
Lennox Lewis
“Tyson Fury should win on points. He’s bigger, has longer arms and great mobility. They both move very well and will want to win, so it will be a great fight. After the fight against Ngannou, what Fury did is concentrate and you can see it by looking at his body. He’s worked up, he’s muscular, he looks fast and that’s how we know Tyson Fury.”
James Toney
“Fury, easy. Fury is a better boxer and is more aggressive. Usyk, he is a good boxer but he is not aggressive, he boxes to stay safe.”
Anthony Joshua
“You’ve probably heard it several times, but I think Usyk is a phenomenal fighter and has a great team around him. And you’re only as good as your team is.. And having been in the ring with him and studying him, I think he’s the one who will get through it.”
Roy Jones jr
“My prediction before the Fury-Ngannou fight was that Tyson would win, but now it will be much more difficult because of that last fight. Tyson already knew that Francis Ngannou was a type of fighter he was not supposed to fight, but even so I’m going with Tyson Fury“.
Darren Sealy
“Tall boxers like Fury and I have the advantage of reach, but it also takes longer for the punch to reach the target. But If they change your rhythm and use different punches and angles, whether it’s Oleksandr Usyk or any other shorter fighter, it can be complicated if their rhythm is really good. Fury can stay strong for a while, but In a couple of rounds Usyk will understand it and will give a class like the teacher he is and will emerge victorious. “I think Usyk will win either in the later rounds or by unanimous decision.”
Evander Holyfield
“There are things that Fury doesn’t do well: he doesn’t fight very well on the inside, but no one has tried to hit him quickly. It will show when he fights Usyk. Usyk is a good fighter and has fast hands. He can box on the inside and he can box on the outside and that’s the art of this sport, so it’s going to look a little different.. You have to be a complete fighter to always win. […] “The fight will certainly present Fury with problems he hasn’t faced in a long time, such as fighting a shorter, faster man.”
Joe Joyce
“Tyson Fury is taller and has greater reach, but Usyk throws more shots, is more skilled in the left-handed stance and is a fight on the 50/50. “I’m not sure who will win, but I’m sure there will be a rematch.”
Tony Bellew
“I always thought Fury was going to be too big for Usyk, but the closer this gets to me, the more I side with Usyk. I think Usyk is the only one who can beat him. But what I think about Fury is that since he joined SugarHill [su entrenador]his style has evolved enormously. He is no longer a fighter with featherweight fists. He is a hard-handed, pressure counterpuncher. I think it’s one of the best transformations I’ve seen in a boxer.. “I always thought he would be a really big, awkward heavyweight that would be a nightmare to fight, but now he’s a big, awkward, dangerous heavyweight.”
Mike Tyson
“Tyson Fury proved time and time again that he’s the best. And I respect Deontay Wilder and Usyk, but The greatest respect I have is for Tyson Fury. He’s the reigning champion, and he’ll be the champion for as long as he wants, unless we get some new guy that’s climbing. I’m going with Fury, I think he’s going to dominate him, he’s going to catch up to him and he’s going to dominate him, that’s what I think, but I could be wrong.”
Hashim Rahman
“I think Usyk will win. I think Usyk is the best heavyweight today. I think Fury imitates Usyk, and he has had a lot of success with that, but fighting slow heavyweights. Anything Fury can do with his boxing, Usyk can do better.”
Carl Froch
“I think Fury vs Usyk is a great fight, but I’ll keep it short and concise: I think Fury is too big for him. I think Usyk will be smart from the beginning, but at some point Fury will get too close, lean on him, intimidate him and start punching him. A couple of blows up like against Wilder and there will be the fight because he is too big and too good. My prediction is that Fury will win by KO“.
Ricky Hatton
“All Fury has fought lately is big heavyweights and suddenly he has a smaller man who could be more agile inside and out and probably cause problems that Tyson may not have been used to facing for four or five years. I think Tyson will win, but the size difference is going to cause problems that he may not have had in the last four or five years. And Usyk has a good chin, but he also hasn’t been hit by someone Fury’s size. It will be difficult for Tyson, but he will prepare properly in the gym and I think he will have an organized game plan and win the fight.”
