Tony Bellew is a keen boxing historian who is well-placed to speak about fantasy fights and now he has been asked about Tyson Fury versus Muhammad Ali.
For many years Fury called himself the greatest heavyweight of the modern era, repeating his famous line that he could not be beaten by any man born from his mother.
That held up until May of this year, as he had beaten the likes of Otto Wallin, and Dillian Whyte by KO at Wembley Stadium, and Derek Chisora three times since 2011.
His most famous wins came against Deontay Wilder, who he drew with the first time they fought in 2018 after having a long time out of the ring before then beating him twice in dramatic fashion via stoppage in 2020 and 2021.
He came through that to face Oleksandr Usyk in a much anticipate undisputed clash in May, narrowly losing on points to set up an epic rematch.
Avenging his loss in good fashion may indeed cement him as the greatest of his generation, but as for all time there’s another heavyweight fans reserve that title for. In fact, Fury has branded him his idol in the past.
“Muhammad Ali, I used to watch and study and copy what he did.
It’s difficult to compare because I’m heavy but I think I’m the closest thing we have today, I think I’m very unique, there has never been someone who is 19st 7lbs and can move around and box like he did even though he was only 14 stone something.”
Ali was an enigma inside and outside the ropes, a flashy heavyweight who used speed, footwork and defence to tire or baffle opponents before striking. He would be the smaller man in both height and bulk against Fury, but that didn’t stop him before.
Speaking to Instant Casino, Bellew was asked who would win between the Brit and ‘The Greatest’ and he went with the American heavyweight legend.
“Muhammad Ali.”
Fury rematches Usyk on December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
