Big fight preview: Tyson Fury discusses his achievements and why he believes getting revenge against the only man who has beaten him won’t be the highlight of his career
Big fight preview: Tyson Fury discusses his achievements and why he believes getting revenge against the only man who has beaten him won’t be the highlight of his career Big fight preview: Tyson Fury discusses his achievements and why he believes getting revenge against the only man who has beaten him won’t be the highlight of his career
Tyson Fury dismissed any idea that beating Oleksandr Usyk would be his greatest achievement in the ring.
That’s quite the statement when you think about it. Because standing in front of Fury will be the man who ended his unbeaten run in May and became the best heavyweight of this era. At least for now.
Usyk, 37, is an undisputed champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight with an unblemished record as a professional having also won every major honour as an amateur. Yet Fury, 36, can argue that by beating Wladimir Klitschko when he was a huge underdog and ending that Ukrainian’s almost decade-long dominance was a bigger moment.
Or maybe pulverising feared puncher Deontay Wilder twice after dropping 10st, overcoming addiction and an anti-doping ban could be in the mix for that honour given the context. Yet Fury feels why beating Usyk would not be the standout moment of his 36-fight career is that because it would not be a surprise. To him at least.
“I’m expected to do it,” he said. “When I beat Klitschko, I was expected to get the floor wiped with me. “Beating this fellow, after losing by one point in my last fight on a split decision, It wouldn’t be like, ‘Oh my God, massive upset’.”
That’s certainly debatable. When the pair go into the ring again at the Kingdom Arena in the city that has now become – whether we like it or not – the hotbed of major boxing, Usyk will be favourite. Fury argues the last fight was close. It was on the scorecards. One judge gave it to Fury 114-113, the other two went with Usyk 114-113 and 115-112.
But during the second half of the bout, it felt conclusive that the Ukrainian won after forcing a count in the ninth round along the way with the bout almost stopped. “I finished stronger than him in Round 12,” Fury argued. “He got carried back to the changing room, believe it or not. He was smashed to bits. I’ve got a picture on my phone, three days later I never had a mark on me.
“Three days later, he was butchered, broken jaw, broken eye socket, the lot. And that’s not even me at my best, nowhere near. “I feel sorry for the lad, honestly. They’re talking about trilogies, but [the beating I’m going to put on him] on Saturday night, he’s going to be moving back down to cruiserweight. I’m sure on that. But then again, money talks all languages, doesn’t it? There’s a lot of dough involved, so he might want to take another good hiding.”
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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to lock horns again on December 21 with the Brit attempting to avenge his defeat by the Ukrainian in May. Victory for Fury could also set up a huge domestic showdown with bitter rival Anthony Joshua next year
There’s a debate if that trilogy fight is contracted. In reality, Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh will decide as he holds what is most important in boxing – the purse strings. Daniel Dubois wants the winner, Anthony Joshua wants Fury. We may be back in the Middle East in a few months for a third showdown between these two. Fury’s argument that this won’t eclipse Klitschko is a strong one but you get the feeling this night will be defining for his career.
He may not get the undisputed crown which Usyk won in May as the IBF is now in the hands of Dubois but the WBA, WBO and WBC belts will just be mere stocking fillers in comparison to the title of No 1 in the sport’s glamour division. Fury has spent the last three months in Malta preparing for this weekend.
Despite only being a bit of white hair dye from having a Santa-esque beard because of his unkempt facial hair, he left the Christmas shopping to wife Paris, who will be ringside tonight after missing the May date owing to a miscarriage. Instead of wondering what will be under the tree at this festive time, Fury has been focussed on being atop the heavyweight one. If he gets there this will be his greatest night. Whether he agrees or not.
Mirror – Sport
