Experts are split on who they think will win between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
The heavyweight titans are set to square off on May 18 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for all four major sanctioning body belts in the glamour division.
It will mark the first time in 24 years that the undisputed title has been on the line in boxing’s marquee weight class.
In 1999, Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield for the WBC, WBA and IBF belts, when the WBO strap was not a recognised world title.
Now, WBC champion Fury and WBO, WBA and IBF titlist Usyk duke it out for the ultimate prize in boxing with the whole world watching on.
As is often the case with fights of this magnitude, everyone has their own take on how it will go.
And here, talkSPORT.com has condensed all those opinions into one place as we run down the standout industry picks for Fury vs Usyk.
Who is backing Fury?
Prince Naseem Hamed
British boxing legend and former featherweight champion Prince Naseem Hamed believes Fury will beat Usyk on points.
“I’m hoping Tyson Fury is going to win that fight on points,” he told Drivetime on talkSPORT.
“I believe that if he stands up in the 12th round, he will get his hand raised, regardless of what’s going to happen.
“I think it’s going to be a hard fight. All I want him to do is stand on his feet.
“Stand on his feet at the 12th round at the end of it and, God willing, it should be a points win to him [Fury].”
Mike Tyson
The former undisputed heavyweight champion is backing Fury to join him among an elite group of undisputed heavyweight champions.
He told FightHub TV: “I’m going with Tyson Fury. I think he’s going to overpower him, catch up with him and overpower him, that’s what I think but I could be wrong.
“Little guys are difficult to fight ’cause they’re harder to hit ’cause they’re smaller.
“He runs a lot, he moves a lot, Tyson’s probably going to have a few rounds to get used to his moments but it’s going to be difficult, he’s very small, very fast.”
Deontay Wilder
Former WBC champion Wilder thinks Fury’s size will be too much for Usyk.
“Fury’s size is what makes him gain more success. When I see him against Usyk I see how they cheated [Steve] Cunningham with that clubbing, putting his weight on him and clubbing him, and I could see him doing the same thing with Usyk, putting his weight on him,” Wilder told Fight Hub TV.
“I do think Usyk has more skill, but when it comes to the size and stuff I don’t think he’ll be able to compete with the size of Fury. But who know’s that’s just my opinion.”
Lennox Lewis
Lewis, the last undisputed heavyweight champion, expects Fury to be back to his best against Usyk.
“I believe that Tyson Fury has great attributes, he’s tall, he can box out of both stances, he can go forward,” he told talkSPORT‘s Spencer Oliver.
“Right now to me it’s difficult to beat a bigger guy so I’ll always say the bigger guy has the advantage.
“I think Tyson Fury on points, but I’m not counting out Usyk.”
Who is backing Usyk?
Anthony Joshua
Joshua is picking his former foe to win the four-belt shootout.
Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: “Well look I’ve fought Oleksandr Usyk so I can go only speak on what I have experienced from him.
“Phenomenal fighter, does everything to a tee and I would say he is going to do a really good job.
“I have never fought Tyson Fury so I can’t really speak on how he will perform or what it is like to face him so only speaking on what I know I would have to say Oleksandr Usyk will be victorious.”
Eddie Hearn
Promoter Hearn was originally siding with Fury but has since made a U-turn.
The Matchroom Boxing chief told talkSPORT Drive: “I think it [the postponement] is going to help Fury in terms of his fitness, he looks in great shape.
“I saw a video of Usyk the other day, he looks in tremendous shape.
“My pick’s going backwards and forwards. I went with Fury, now I’m with Usyk.
“But I want Fury to win the fight. I really believe the fight with AJ can happen if he wins.
“It’s a pure 50/50 fight, it’s one of the best fights that can be made in boxing, it’s the undisputed heavyweight world championship.
“Four weeks – you will see that fight, without a doubt.”
Tony Bellew
The former cruiserweight has fought Usyk and told talkSPORT a change in his trainers may have swung the fight in the Ukrainian’s favour.
“[Tyson Fury] is a fighter that loves to press fighters and look for a knockout under the brilliant SugarHill Steward at the Kronk.
“He’s a different fighter now, he’s someone that looks for the knockout and that’s music to Oleksandr Usyk’s ears. I know because I’ve been in there with him, the boy is exceptional at what he does.”
George Groves
Groves believes Usyk will win the undisputed fight ‘comfortably’.
“I think Usyk wins, I think he’s in better form,” Groves told Grosvenor Sport.
“I know people are attacking him a bit for the Dubois performance but I thought he was very, very good. Usyk was in full control and stopped him.
“Usyk will take Fury out of his comfort zone, Fury’s a big unit and he carries a lot of weight and if Usyk makes him work harder than he used to then it’s going to be a tough night for him.
“Usyk builds into a fight and each round he cranks it up.
“I think he’s in better form, I’m going against the natural size of Fury, and I’m picking Usyk. I think he wins quite comfortably.”
News Summary:
- ‘Knockout plan could backfire’ – Boxing world from Anthony Joshua, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis predict Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk
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