As the four-belt heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk fast approaches, a former opponent of the Ukrainian in Tony Bellew has made his final prediction.
Fury and Usyk are set to battle to become the first undisputed champion of the division since Lennox Lewis and, whilst the Brit is the slight favourite, plenty are backing Usyk to continue his perfect run in the top division after conquering 200lbs.
That includes Bellew, who was the Ukrainian’s final opponent at cruiserweight. The knockout loss has led the 41-year-old, now retired to the pundit’s chair, to praise his former foe at any given opportunity.
Speaking to TalkSPORT, he said that the current version of Fury – who has scored stoppage wins in five of his last seven – will play into Usyk’s hands.
“I think Tyson Fury stood the best chance of beating him when he was with his uncle Peter Fury because that’s when he was an unorthodox, big, awkward fighter who used his size and his attributes to his advantage.
Now, he’s this fighter that loves to press fighters and look for a knockout under the brilliant Sugarhill Steward at the Kronk … 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.”
Whilst Bellew won’t count ‘The Gypsy King’ out completely, his pick is a ‘wide points victory’ for the Ukrainian, claiming that if there was no size disparity there would be no debate at all.
Fans don’t have to wait long to see how it will play out, with both men and their teams now touched down in Riyadh in preparation for the first bell on May 18.
