British undefeated heavyweight boxer, Tyson Fury and Ukrainian undefeated heavyweight boxer Oleksandr Usyk are counting down to the much talked about and much anticipated heavyweight unifying title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, May 18, 2024.
The two undefeated Heavyweight boxers are fighting for the first time in 24 years since 1999 when Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield in an epic encounter.
Fury 35-years and WBC champion and Usyk 37 years who holds the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO titles will lock horns in a crucial over 12 rounds in the event of fire boxing event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Tyson Fury is a two-time heavyweight world champion and has been a professional boxer since 2008. The British boxer born in Manchester stands 2.06 meters(6ft,9 inches)tall with an impressive record of 34 wins,24 by way of knockout and tasted no defeats(34-0-1-24kos). He has held the WBC heavyweight title since 2020.
Oleksandr Usyk the Ukrainian heavyweight boxer who currently holds the WBA, WBO, and IBF heavyweight titles, is an Olympic gold medalist. He stands 1.9-metre(6ft,3 inches)tall and won 21 fights and 14 by way of knockout and no defeats (21-0-14kos). The tall and energetic fighter some time ago, spent time on patrol at home during Russia’s war on Ukraine.
After years of attempting to use psychological warfare to humiliate and embarrass Usyk- from referring to the former undisputed cruiserweight champion as everything from the middleweight and a rabbit calling him “a little sausage”.However, just a couple of days ago Fury changed his bragging rights game plan by eulogizing and complimenting Usyk’s magnificent track records as a former Olympic gold medalist who twice defeated Anthony Joshua to become the unified heavyweight champion.
Usyk indicated- “I don’t think about Tyson Fury or what Tyson Fury says because Tyson is bipolar. One week Tyson says I am a bad guy. One week Tyson says I am a good guy. But I don’t know where is this Tyson, you know? I think Tyson is a good man. For me, it’s true because he is a father,a son and a champion. But Tyson plays mind play. This is my life, I’m not playing.”
Some observers have said that Usyk does much of talking or bragging rights through strategic communication linked to facial expressions and effective reactions.
Given his advantages in size, which include seven inches in reach and six inches in height, Tyson Fury remains a slight favourite to many analysts including me.
This historic fight in Riyadh the capital of Saudi Arabia has been described by some boxing pandits as the biggest in the sport since Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao shattered pay-per-view records in 2015.
Fury appears to have accrued more miles physically, mentally and psychologically both inside and outside the ring, and even though he’s two years younger than 37 years -old Usyk, some constructive critics have debated whether he has ever been the same from the 2021 trilogy win over Deonty Wilder, which saw fury dropped to kiss the canvas twice by one of the ferocious punches in the history of the heavyweight championship fight.
My major concern is, after over the past years, Tyson Fury managed to utilize his mind game to gain a mental edge over all the boxers he fought against, it is indeed very tough to critically and analytically cogitate whether the British heavyweight boxer has finally met an opponent with a formidable mental fortitude that he can’t break easily.
Undoubtedly, Fury has built an undisputed reputation as a clinical and decorated heavyweight champion whose size, speed and toughness are pivotal to his success. I mean, the fact that he always brings to the ring the speed of a middleweight to the heavyweight division. However, he has yet to face another skilful and crafty southpaw.
Reports making rounds have it that Mike Goodall who has made and designed the canvas for the unpredictable fight, came out to say that Team Usyk are simply looking for excuses and alibi after they complained about the solid and verifiable canvass.
According to some media reports, last year an agreement was struck based on a 70/30 purse split in Fury’s favour. It simply means that the British boxer is thought to be accruing around 150 million dollars(116 million pounds).
We may have a winner but it is very close to call.
By: Mohammed Amin Lamptey
