The seismic showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia is finally on the horizon, and on 18th May, the two biggest names in the division will battle it out for the heavyweight crown at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
In essence, the ‘Ring of Fire’ is a genuine attempt at unification, offering both fighters the chance to become heavyweight boxing’s undisputed champion.
The Gypsy King, who remains the favourite to prevail, holds the WBC title, while Ukrainian slugger Usyk carries the WBA, IBF, IBO and The Ring belts. All four belts are on the line in Saudi Arabia.
Excitement has been building in the run-up to the event and it’s easy to see why. Unification bouts have been rare in boxing in recent years. Indeed, the winner on 18th May will be named the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis earned that moniker 24 years ago.
The winner will also lay claim to the title of first undisputed champion in the four-belt era, offering both fighters a shot at immortality.
Originally scheduled for 17th February this year, the fight date was pushed back after Fury sustained a deep gash above his eye during a sparring session.
No further delays are expected, however. If either Fury or Usyk pull out ahead of time, they will be forced to forfeit a mammoth $10m to their opponent from their cut of the purse.
Anthony Joshua, who disposed of Francis Ngannou in style back in March, has been thrust forward as the next opponent for the winner of the Ring of Fire, while Croatian Filip Hrgović also has solid claims, though any chatter about the ‘next big fight’ will have to wait until Fury and Usyk’s score is settled.
Will the Gypsy King win the crown?
For Tyson Fury, 18th May will be a day of reckoning, offering the Gypsy King a chance to silence his doubters following his unimpressive showing and controversial points victory against MMA crossover over Francis Ngannou in the Battle of the Baddest in October last year.
Fury has already left a line of big hitters in his wake over the course of his sparkling career, and his record of 34 wins and one draw from 25 bouts – and 24 knockouts – includes victories over Wladimir Klitschko, Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora, though his meeting with Usyk could be his stiffest challenge yet.
Many observers have already suggested that the Gypsy King’s best route to success in May will involve leaning on his superior physical traits. Fury, standing at 6’9” (though many reports state that he is an inch shorter), will tower over Usyk (6’3”) in Riyadh, while a seven-inch reach advantage could also be significant.
With that kind of leverage, Fury can control the distance and dictate the pace against Usyk, using his jab to open up opportunities to throw his famous rapid combinations.
Fury’s physical prowess could also allow him to grind down Usyk’s resolve. The Gypsy King is almost certain to lean on his opponent and to work the body throughout, and this could manufacture gaps for an explosive knockout volley to land.
However, promoter Frank Warren believes that Fury’s inner drive and desire could be the key to his success. Speaking to Sky Sports about the Ring of Fire, he said:
He’s got plan A, plan B and a plan C and more important, he’s got a big heart. One thing about Tyson, if he senses a crack or sees any weakness, he’s the biggest exploiter of it and that’s why it’s going to be such an exciting fight.
Warren also spoke about a potential chink in Usyk’s armour that Fury could target, saying:
His Achilles’ heel, as I’ve said, and I’m surprised the so-called experts never picked up on it, has always been his body. Daniel Dubois, that’s what he was trained for, to go and exploit that and he nearly pulled it off.
Or will The Cat get the cream?
Undefeated 36-year-old Oleksandr Usyk has 21 wins from 21 bouts and 14 knockout victories, and the Ukrainian’s blend of fight intelligence and technique should make him a menacing prospect for Fury.
One of Usyk’s biggest assets is his exceptional footwork, and this aspect of his technique could give him the edge, according to former WBC Cruiserweight champion, Tony Bellew, who lost a fight against Usyk in 2018.
In a conversation with former fellow fighter Carl Froch on the Froch on Fighting podcast, Bellew gave his backing to Usyk, saying:
Oleksandr Usyk, points – 100%. I thought AJ would beat him first time around, so it’s got nothing to do with [me being a previous opponent].
What’s the style [Fury] struggles with most? A back-foot fighter. [Usyk] wants you to attack him. He makes an absolute fool of you. Usyk’s feet are exceptional. I’ve never seen feet like his ever before.
Alongside his dancing feet, Usyk will need to utilise his lightning-quick reflexes and ability to slalom in and out of range to upset the odds in Riyadh.
It will be all about staying cool and creating angles for Usyk when Fury tries to rough him up, and by staying as light as possible on his feet, the Ukrainian should be able to employ a counter-punching strategy.
Avoiding exchanges in the clinch could be crucial for Usyk, while flurries to Fury’s body could also be a facet of his gameplan. Sticking to that pre-determined plan and fighting without emotion will also be pivotal. Usyk did that against Anthony Joshua, and the underdog delivered.
Speaking to Sky Sports, promoter Frank Warren also had his say on Usyk’s chances:
Usyk might feel from the Ngannou fight there are some things that he can exploit and I’m sure he will. He’s a competitor.
He’s a competitor from amateur days right up until the present day. He’s done everything that’s been asked of him.
The smart money is on Fury
35-year-old Tyson Fury is the bookmakers’ favourite to win the rumble in Riyadh and to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis, and TonyBet has the Gypsy King priced at odds of 1.79 to succeed, with underdog Usyk at a slightly longer price of 1.92.
We expect Fury to live up to his billing in Saudi Arabia for a number of reasons. While both fighters take undefeated records to the Kingdom Arena, the stats suggest that Fury has a slight advantage in power to go with his other physical advantages.
The Gypsy King, who stopped four of his last five opponents, has a knockout percentage of 71% compared to Usyk’s 67%, and he will have learned a great deal from his shaky experience against Francis Ngounou last year.
Usyk, who has stopped just one of his last four opponents and needed decisions to beat Derek Chisora and Anthony Joshua (twice), could find it tough to match Fury’s power, especially in the latter rounds when the Gypsy King’s trademark stamina tends to emerge as a potent weapon.
At TonyBet, you’ll find extensive markets for the Ring of Fire later this month, with odds provided for winning methods, round range, outright winner and more. If you’re planning to place a wager on Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk, TonyBet has got you covered.
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