5 burning queries that Tyson Fury will answer successfully one way or another

Boxing will have an undisputed heavyweight champion this weekend. Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk meet in a cutthroat battle for all four major straps of the four-belt era. Tyson Fury means to unify his WBC title against the Ukranian’s WBA (Super), IBF/WBO/IBO, and The Ring heavyweight title gold. Meanwhile, Oleksandr Usyk wants to overcome doubters that he is the one capable of putting down boxing’s lineal heavyweight champion.

The clash between the English WBC champ and his challenger has seen billing as the “Ring of Fire.” Saudi Arabia’s Chairman of the General Authority for Entertainment (GEA), Turki Alalshikh, has promoted the fight in full force. Originally for February 17, it saw a delay after Fury incurred a cut while sparring. He pulled out of the undisputed showdown after his freak accident against MMA fighter Argon Smakici. However, the fighters are now ready to brawl.

Fans and pundits have their takes on which way to veer;  going into the most important heavyweight scrap of the era, most of it revolves around Fury. Here are some hot takes on some of those.

He shall hath no Fury

The most important question is — which Tyson Fury will show up? Fury (34-0-1, 24 KO) is all geared up for war. Not too long ago, he secured a tumbling victory against Francis Ngannou last October. He eked a split decision win, even suffering a heavy-handed knockdown from the ex-UFC heavyweight. Riyadh’s Opening Season saw a flob Fury barely manage to hold his own during some connects.

He once considered Deontay Wilder the most powerful hitter, wobbling against him in R12 of his WBC heavyweight title frame. Speaking about it later, he commends Ngannou for his unbelievable raw power. The ‘Gypsy King’ even said nobody in the sport had knocked him down harder. However, pundits and analysts like-mindedly consider that an in-shape Fury would have fared far better. Teddy Atlas, UFC fame Sean O’Malley, and others were the first to make such a claim.

Consequently, this hypothesis held; in the Knockout Chaos extended Riyadh Season event, heavyweight KO artist Anthony Joshua similarly folded Ngannou. ‘The Predator’ now sits at 17-3 MMA, 0-2 Boxing. Engaging in his pre-fight theatrics and scram with Usyk’s corner, John Fury currently states that his son is in phenomenal shape and would come at 30lbs lighter for his four-belt shootout this Saturday. So, the gist of it is that a better version would show up.

Will King catch a body?

There are those analysts entitled to think Oleksandr Usyk’s performance against Daniel Dubois was a certain red flag. Those who believe Usyk is vulnerable to body shots find ammunition in his unusual clash on August 26 last year. Oleksandr Usyk crashed hard due to a right to the belt line below his torso. Referee Luis Pabon even ruled it a low blow.

Consequently, a legitimate question appeared: Are body work shots the unbeaten Ukrainian’s kryptonite? Oleksandr Usyk, 21-0-0 (14 KOs), was a cruiserweight stalwart for the long haul. Usyk is 6’3″ and weighed around 221 for his last three fights, the result of bulking around the 200-pound hydration limit lifelong. Tyson Fury banks on this to hint that size would play a big role in their title fight.

The Gypsy King even gibingly consoles not to take a slight at the opponent if he loses due to the size disadvantage. Again and again, he resurrects the possibility that the size difference would be a factor. At a towering 6’9″ and a reach of 85 inches ( to Usyk’s 78 inches), it is all but sure that Fury will have a certain advantage with extension.

30 going on 35-0?

Along with Sugarhill Steward serving as his cornerman, the lineal heavyweight champ has Fury Sr. by his side, as usual. Speaking recently to iFL TV, he talked about Tyson Fury’s recent engrams with over-the-top weight trends. Over the past few years, Fury’s fight weight has fluctuated between the mid-260s and the high 270-pound limit. Fury weighed in at a career-high 277.7 pounds when he last fought Francis Ngannou. The “Slob Fury” imagery didn’t instill much confidence in his demeanor.

As Bob Arum, Fury’s co-promoter, puts it – “In boxing, there’s a saying that the most important division is the heavyweight division.” Lining up to that notion, every inch of the reach, every gram of musculature matters. John Fury prompted his son to come 30 pounds under his heavy limit. Fury’s lowest on the scale was 245.5 lbs for his 2012 Vinny Maddalone fight. Meanwhile, he hedged sky high at 247 versus Wladimir Klitschko.

He was successful on both counts. The “Ring Of Fire” Official weigh-in at BLVD City – took place at Music World on May 17. Fury’s 262lbs is his lowest since defeating Otto Wallin at 254lbs in 2019. While not a full 30 scrunch on his hydration, it can still be said that he comes out the victor to Oleksandr Usyk’s career-high 223.5 pounds. 35-0 is still on the cards.

How significant is Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk?

The short of it? Very. The Englishman and Usyk have certainly earned the right to fight for boxing’s zenith spot. Former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has a spotless record. Fury has a draw leading up to the DAZN Pay-Per-View scrap. Unless something unforeseen happens, boxing will boast its first undisputed heavyweight champ since Lennox Lewis in the early 2000s.

Their long list of accomplishments and unbeaten odds add to the significance. Usyk, though with a shorter range, has remained a whirling storm. Despite his size, the Ukrainian champion has already run through heavyweight Joshua (6’6″, 250-pound plus). Tyson Fury has had a more calculated yet illustrious reign against Wilder, Otto Wallin, and Tom Schwarz.

Ryan Garcia, former fame Roberto Duran, Larry Holmes, Klitschko, and Promoter Frank Warren were among the top few to attend the ceremonial weigh-ins at BLVD City. It’s an all-star affair.

Fighter Odds: Who wins?

Tyson Fury is the -120 bettor’s fave, according to oddsmakers. He’s slated to win at 10/11 betting odds with Betfred. The 35-year-old does ledge out less with Oleksandr Usyk to win at 21/20 with bet365. The consensus vote goes to the champ from Manchester. So who wins?

Fury. There’s a significant draw to choose him and a certain hiccup to pen the name. His last performance wasn’t awe-inspiring against a newbie with next to no boxing experience. However, he has remained ahead with mind games and self-improvement. 

The 2012 Olympian Usyk is a short-range technician, having ruled at 200 for over three years. He’s 5-0 at heavyweight. But the choice goes to Fury. Despite slippage and wobbles, he can hold out to Usyk; so can the Ukranian. But the rather big difference in size puts him at a loss. Fury wins unanimously if he can tire down with long connects and pull away in the later rounds.

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