The Heavyweight Clash of the Titans: Usyk vs. Fury
On May 18th, the boxing world will witness a highly anticipated showdown as WBA, IBF, and WBO titleholder Oleksandr Usyk takes on WBC champion Tyson Fury to determine the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis’ victory over Evander Holyfield in November 1999.
The winner of this clash will prove themselves to be the best of their era, and both Usyk and Fury possess the profile and personality to carry the heavyweight crown even without the need for multiple belts.
This is a welcome development, as modern boxing politics often make it challenging for a fighter to maintain control over an entire division. The current drive to stage the most exciting heavyweight fights further reduces the likelihood of either Usyk or Fury being able to satisfy all of their mandatory commitments.
Upcoming Challenges for the New Champion
In fact, there are already strong rumors suggesting that the new champion will have little time to celebrate before handing over the IBF title for the Filip Hrgovic-Daniel Dubois matchup. British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley, who is ranked in the top 15 by various sanctioning bodies, is well-positioned to mount his own title bid within the next 18 months. However, Wardley, like many others, is eager to see a true heavyweight champion emerge from the Usyk-Fury showdown in Riyadh.
Wardley’s Insights on the Potential Clash
Wardley, who has sparred extensively with Usyk and on a few occasions with Fury, shared his insights on the potential clash. He acknowledged that he has a “funny place” with this fight, as he has spent more time in the ring with Usyk, dating back to the Ukrainian’s bout against Tony Bellew. Wardley believes both fighters are coming off questionable performances, with Usyk’s slightly underwhelming win over Daniel Dubois and Fury’s struggle against the novice Francis Ngannou. Wardley suggests that the “negative backlash” from these performances may have affected the fighters differently, and he slightly edges towards Usyk in terms of mental fortitude and focus.
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