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Wladimir Klitschko, the former Unified Heavyweight Champion, has backed Oleksandr Usyk to beat Tyson Fury.
The Undisputed Heavyweight Championship is on the line. Usyk defends his WBA, WBO and IBF Belts, leaving him with just the WBC belt needed to complete the collection. A win makes him a two-weight undisputed champion. He would join the likes of Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue as two men to have done that. Fury has won all the belts at heavyweight. He did this when he secured the WBC belt, beating Deontay Wilder. However, he has not managed to become undisputed.
The winner will follow in the footsteps of Lennox Lewis, the last man to have done that. Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield in 1999 to become the best of his generation. Klitschko knows what it is like to be in the ring with them in different ways. Klitschko lost to Tyson Fury in 2015, losing a unanimous decision.
He was outboxed and had no answer for Fury’s elusiveness. He has also faced Usyk in sparring. Reports indicated that Usyk was getting the better of Klitschko, showing his skill. Usyk is seen as having a better boxing IQ and footwork. But Fury’s sheer size at six-foot-nine is seen as an equalizer. But Klitschko felt Usyk would come out on top.
Klitschko Reacts
“I would say in boxing and in the heavyweight division size does matter. We know the difference between the two opponents is big, and we know that Fury is taller and has a longer reach. But there is no other way to fight a strong fighter like AJ, and Usyk has shown it twice.
“Now with the technique, you can achieve whatever you want. It’s not about the power or the size. It’s about technique in boxing, and I believe Oleksandr Usyk is one of the best technicians in modern boxing and I’m sure he’s going to do his job tomorrow night,” Wladimir Klitschko said
Fury’s Cut
The cut over Fury’s eye is a key factor that could also play a part. He pulled out of the February 17 date after sustaining a massive cut over his right eye in sparring. It is expected to take three months to heal at a minimum. That left Fury a race against time, with suggestions the cut could open up. Usyk is known for being a very precise and economical puncher. His straight left could target that cut, which Klitschko has alluded to before. While Fury is known for being an elusive fighter, he must engage with Usyk at some point. But Klitschko recognized Fury won’t be easy.
“Size does matter. The physical advantage goes to Fury. It’s tough to fight a much taller man.”Fury is very difficult to calculate. You never know what kind of mental state Fury is in when he’s getting into the ring. His previous fight against Francis Ngannou, he didn’t look good. But that doesn’t mean you can underestimate him.“It might be a super easy fight for Usyk. It might be super complicated. The only certainty is that you cannot underestimate Fury,” Klitschko stated
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