Well, here we are !
Twenty four hours from crowning the first, ‘new’ heavyweight champion of the world, to carry the title of this website this century. What an event and fight it promises to be.
This contest, as the American’s are prone to say, is a real ‘pick ems’. The odds are even among the bookies, and pundits, fans and soothsayers are swaying from one to the other. Flip-flopping is rife.
Let us nail our flag to the mast …
After years of us being convinced that Tyson Fury was too big, strong and adaptable for Oleksandr Usyk, and, the ‘Gypsy King’ would prevail in any subsequent meeting between the two, we have watched and deeply considered what has happened in recent years and, as a result, now predict a Usyk points victory.
Our rationale is:
- Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) is an elite fighter, who as a 2012 London Olympic champion and former undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world has a proven track record and skillset to behold.
- He originally entered the heavyweight division as a small addition to the world title contenders. It was doubtful whether he was going to physically be big enough to achieve anything in that rarefied division. He has though been a genuine heavyweight for the years either side of the COVID pandemic. His defeats of Anthony Joshua (twice), fringe contenders and Daniel Dubois last time out confirm this.
- Usyk is a southpaw, providing a whole series of new challenges to Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs). These are awkwardness, technique, pace, mixing up of stance and punching positions.
- Usyk has the support and motivation of a nation currently under occupation by an invading army. His desire to give honour and pride to his nation, in difficult times, cannot be underestimated.
- We believe Fury has regressed significantly in recent years. This was no more evident than in his last fight with Francis Ngannou, a one-fight novice in the Queensberry code. He was put on his backside and in our view lost the fight. He was previously involved in a back and forth struggle with Otto Wallin (a small heavyweight) in which he suffered significant cut damage. Tomorrow’s match up was also delayed by three months due to a further cut received in training camp. The scar tissue is mounting up.
Some of the flip-side arguments are:
- Fury is significantly the bigger man
- At 35, he is also younger than Usyk (37)
- Fury has got into shape (certainly compared to previous outings)
- Fury is adaptable and always found a way to win when he’s most challenged
- Fury is the better boxer ?
Responses to all these arguments can be put forward, in many cases contradicting the original point. An example being; Fury is in shape. But, will Usyk after three training camps during the prolonged journey to this meeting, not be ?
We believe the decider which leans us towards a Usyk victory will be skills and style. The Ukrainian WBA/IBF/WBO titleholder will maximise these advantages by aligning his tactics over the twelve rounds we expect the fight to last.
Usyk will not stand toe-to-toe with Fury on any occasion, but will also not run. He will use measured and well timed aggression.
He will exchange when he needs to force a point and bank rounds as the fight progresses.
We predict Fury will float around the ring when he chooses peppering Usyk with his jab but the Ukrainian will, by his boxing IQ, maximise his experience and southpaw style to take a close but unanimous decision on the scorecards. Then, it’s roll on to the controversy and the subsequent rematch scheduled for September. We can only hope the title still remains undisputed and is not splintered in the interim.
Enjoy what we predict to be more of a chessmatch than slugfest but, hope and expect it to be riveting, not just for what’s at stake, but the mesh of the size, styles and pedigree. We’re likely to get a twelve round fight, but thankfully, at the end the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion !
The Undisputed 