Heavyweight Boxing Showdown: Fury vs. Usyk for Undisputed Title
This Saturday, the boxing world will witness a historic clash as undefeated WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury takes on the formidable Oleksandr Usyk, the current WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO titleholder, in a bid to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis over 25 years ago.
Usyk’s Chance at Undisputed Legacy
Usyk, who achieved undisputed status at cruiserweight in 2018, has the chance to cement his legacy and become a two-weight undisputed champion. For Fury, this will be his first encounter with a former cruiserweight champion, a category in which he has prior experience.
Fury’s Toughest Cruiserweight Challenge
In 2013, Fury made his U.S. debut against former IBF cruiserweight champion Steve Cunningham, a fight that proved to be one of the toughest challenges of his career. Cunningham, who briefly knocked Fury down in the second round, recalled the “fight of his life” against the towering Brit, praising Fury’s ability to adapt and eventually stop him in the seventh round.
“It was the fight of my life. Tyson Fury is a special, adaptable fighter.”
Similarities Between Cunningham and Usyk
Cunningham believes the similarities in size and skill between him and Usyk may be why Fury holds the Ukrainian in such high regard, with both men standing significantly shorter than the 6-foot-9 Fury. However, Cunningham warned that Usyk will need to make Fury commit to his attacks in order to land a decisive punch, much like the one that dropped Fury against Cunningham.
Usyk’s Keys to Victory
The key to victory for Usyk, according to Cunningham, will be to keep moving and not allow Fury to use his weight to tire out the challenger, a tactic that proved successful for Fury in their previous encounter. Cunningham also suggested that Usyk’s team may be vigilant in addressing Fury’s tendency to grab and lean on his opponents, which could potentially lead to a disqualification.
Ultimately, Cunningham believes that Usyk’s unique skill set and the Ukrainian’s boxing prowess may be enough to dethrone the WBC champion, although he acknowledged Fury’s own exceptional abilities as a special and adaptable fighter.
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