Boxing will soon see its first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years when Tyson Fury takes on Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.
The boxing world has been left waiting for this one, but Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk is finally here.
It’s the first undisputed heavyweight championship fight in 25 years and looks set to live up to the hype based on the markets. The pre-fight festivities have already drawn blood as John Fury, Tyson’s father, headbutted a member of Usyk’s camp.
Fury is the $1.90 favourite, but only just. Usyk has been upsetting this division for a little while now. He’s at $2 to do it again in this one.
The expectation is for this one to go the distance. Interestingly, Usyk to win by points or decision is the shortest market at $3 to Fury’s $3.25. Meanwhile, the size and power of the Gypsy king has Fury at $4.20 to win by KO/TKO to Usyk’s $5.50.
Boxing is riding a high at the moment. The biggest fights are consistently being made, and this is the biggest of the lot right now.
Tyson Fury
Age: 35
Height: 6’9”
Reach: 85
Record: 34-0-1, 24KOs
There are some questions about Tyson Fury heading into this fight. He’s undoubtedly one of the best heavyweights boxing has ever seen, and he deserves his favouritism against the smaller and relatively inexperienced Usyk in the heavyweight division. However, he was less than convincing throughout his split decision win over Francis Ngannou. Making his boxing debut, Ngannou looked the better fighter at times and knocked Fury down in the 3rd round.
As we have seen recently with Deontay Wilder at The Day of Reckoning, when a big heavyweight starts to show signs of decline, that decline can occur at a rapid rate. The early rounds of this fight are going to tell us a lot about where Fury is at in his career that has threatened to end in retirement a few times already.
Oleksandr Usyk's eyes are glued on the ring as Tyson Fury dances around the ring 👀🕺#FuryUsyk | Saturday | @boxingontnt | #RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/cPSVtPKinu
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) May 15, 2024
At his best, Fury is an elite fighter and close to unbeatable. His size allows him to control the fight and pick his moments to strike. Defensively, his head movement simply doesn’t make sense for somebody that big, while his footwork allows him to get around the ring with relative ease.
He isn’t considered an elite power puncher in a division featuring Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder. Still, in the four fights before Ngannou, which we’re calling a bad day at the office until we see the opening rounds of this one, Fury ended all four by KO or TKO.
Fury will be prepared to go the distance if he must. His extra size provides him with the tools to get through the late rounds relatively risk-free if he already has rounds in the bank. The 35-year-olds ability to win it either way is why he’s a slight favourite before the ring walks.
Oleksandr Usyk
Age: 37
Height: 6’3”
Reach: 78″
Record: 21-0, 14 KOs
Okensandr Usyk is a master craftsman and pound-for-pound great of boxing. If there is a 6’3” fighter who can beat an undefeated 6’9” heavyweight champion, it’s him.
He became a heavyweight champion himself by beating the 6’6” Anthony Joshua in 2021 before beating him again in 2022. In 2023, he beat the then-undefeated and 6’5” Daniel Dubois.
Usyk is a smart fighter. His boxing IQ far exceeds the 21 professional bouts he has fought to date and allows him to cope with bigger opponents. He moves well and is able to create angles. That’s a significant factor against a much bigger man. One that often uses his size to lean on his opponents in uglier parts of a fight.
Usyk is very smart pic.twitter.com/HRYmbKHXMQ
— Miguel Class (@MigClass) May 15, 2024
Getting in the clinch and taking Fury’s weight isn’t an option for Usyk and he’s smart enough to avoid it.
Fury is the only fighter to have ever outboxed the also-masterful Wladimir Klitschko, but that was a long time ago now. While Usyk is still the older of the two fighters, his speed has never wavered. His smaller stature could help him in that regard if this fight is decided more by speed than by power and size.
Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk Boxing Tips
Fury’s size is the biggest factor to consider. Provided he’s up to it physically, Fury’s size can go a long way to nullifying Usyk’s greatest strengths. Fury fighting on the front foot will make it difficult for Usyk to control the fight as he has done against other notable heavyweights, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
Fury’s reach advantage is significant. Where Usyk will look to create angles, Fury can stave him away and moves well for a big man himself.
Usyk’s chances of victory increase as the fight goes on. He’s likely to be the fitter of the two fighters and can wear down Fury if he doesn’t take too many shots in the meantime. Usyk’s body will be a target for Fury, though. While it wasn’t considered legal then, Daniel Dubois dropped Usyk in his last fight. Joshua hurt him there, too. If there is a fitness gap, Fury can close it with early body shots to tire the Ukranian.
Fury doesn’t have the punching power of Joshua and Dubois, who Usyk recently beat. However, he should be able to pick his spots throughout the fight. If he still has it in his legs, Fury by points or decision is the way to go.
Best Bet METHOD OF VICTORY - FURY BY POINTS OR DECISION - $3.25*