Boxing
Size, strength and controversial draws – other heavyweights talk to Fury-Usyk
“I REALLY think it will be a draw.” These were the words David Haye said when asked to choose the winner this evening before the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk fight. Controversy is commonplace in big-time boxing, and false decisions, full of arguments, often come with the territory.
Haye was one of various heavyweights, past and present, who shared their thoughts, observations and predictions with Boxing News as they prepare for their heavyweight fight, which will be define generation.
While Haye may be a figure from the past, many hard-hitting hitters from the present and future had an impact on the outcome.
If the doors opened in different directions, Andy Ruiz he might as well stand in the ring during a competition of this rank. As it turns out, the quick Californian lost to Joshua, who in turn lost to Usyk. Ruiz now fights inaction by standing on the outside and looking in.
“I think if Usyk throws his combinations, comes inside, sticks to the game plan and doesn’t let Tyson Fury surround him; operate the jab, operate the distance, I think Usyk could do something good,” Ruiz said.
Ruiz returns to the ring on August 3 in Los Angeles against Jarrell Miller. Miller, known as “Massive Baby,” was last seen losing to Daniel Dubois.
“I think Tyson can do it, man. Tyson is a good guy. I focus more on my feelings and the relationships I have with boys. Tyson is a huge guy, but he’s also a huge, amusing and lovable guy. He’s always been positive towards me, so I’m rooting for him,” Miller said.
Still rebuilding his career after his first defeat (by one-round KO against Łukasz Różański), the Croatian Alen “Dzikusa” Babić he was at the Fury camp and saw the work ethic firsthand.
“I will definitely watch it. But I think it will be very tough to say that. I see Fury training harder than ever. I went to one of his camps. I know he works a lot,” Babić said.
“He spars four times a week. That’s a lot. I think I would still stay with Fury even after everything that happened.
As he prepares for his own date with destiny on June 1, when he faces Daniel Dubois in a five-on-five fight, Filip Hrgovic will be keeping a close eye on the winner.
“Not because of the Ngannou fight, but even before the Ngannou fight I thought Usyk was the favorite,” Hrgovic said.
“It’s more like a 50-50 fight, but I give Usyk a little bit of an edge in this fight because for me he’s just a more complete fighter.
“He’s always in good shape; great defense, great footwork, great technique, and he has solid strength. Usyk is a more complete fighter. But of course it’s a tough fight for both sides.”
London, UK – August 12: Filip Hrgovic vs. Demsey McKean, heavyweight contest, heavyweight contest.
August 12, 2023 – Photo by Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Hrgovic handed the southpaw giant his first professional defeat Zhilei Zhang. The Chinese fighter bounced back before suffering another defeat against Joseph Parker. Zhang has a decisive evening ahead of him on June 1, but he still found time to take a look at Fury-Usyk.
“I think it depends on the type of training camp and Tyson Fury’s preparation for this fight. If he does it like he did in the Ngannou fight, it will be a really tough and long evening for him,” Zhang said.
Zhang gave Joe Joyce two tough but not particularly long nights in which he imposed successive defeats on the seemingly immovable obstacle of Great Britain. Joyce admitted his experience in calling huge fights is sketchy, but as Usyk’s previous opponent his insights remain valuable.
“I can’t wait to watch it and see the result. The story of the tape, you put together their stats, knockouts, fights and everything.
“But yes, Usyk is very tough. It’s very technical, maybe faster. He could come in and out. I saw how both of them could win this fight, so it will be a 50-50 fight.
“I made a bad prediction again. I mean, I thought Joshua-Ngannou would have been a double KO, but obviously it wasn’t. So don’t listen to me. Don’t put your money on what I say,” Joyce laughed.
A red-hot amateur talent Delicious Orie says Fury will have to step up because Usyk is no slouch and the level needs to enhance tenfold compared to his Francis Ngannou performance.
“I hope he does [Fury] is doing better. I won’t knock out Francis Ngannou, I think he’s an incredible athlete and fighter, but he’s had one professional boxing fight. Tyson Fury has been around for a long time,” Orie said.
“I’m joyful that everything is going according to plan. This should have happened a year ago. The final heavyweight clash. Let’s do it.”
While currently a heavyweight fighter, Joseph Parkermay be biased when it comes to picking the winner, the Recent Zealander has gained enough experience over his 12-year career, including a world title, to pick up on each man’s key nuances.
“I just think it’s great that the fight is actually happening and closed. This is a fight that has been talked about for a long time. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen an undefeated unified champion. You know who I’m going to. You know who I support,” Parker admitted.
“So I’m very biased in that sense. I just think I know Tyson will take care of business and become the unified champion. It will be wonderful.”
One man who is never afraid to get an opinion is a former cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion David Haye. The Londoner was expected to fight Tyson Fury more than once, but the fight never materialized. Now he expects controversy.
“I actually think it will be a draw. I think Usyk will win this fight the same way I believed Ngannou won this fight against Tyson Fury. Even though he didn’t win that fight, technically on points, I thought he did. I’m not a judge, but I think Ngannou did enough to win the fight and it went Tyson Fury’s way.
David Haye: Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images
“I think Usyk will win this fight, in my opinion, but two judges will be equal and one judge will fight for Usyk and we will have a majority draw. If everyone is equal, the huge one beats the little one, but when there is an exceptional little and a good huge, the special one wins or the more skilled one wins. That’s why so many fighters have moved up in weight classes over the years,” Haye continued.
“He’s a southpaw too [Usyk]. In my opinion, Tyson Fury doesn’t like the southpaw style. He doesn’t like that front left hand in front of him. This seems to confuse him, even though Ngannou was able to pivot to a southpaw in his last fight, Tyson had no chance, couldn’t get through – and that’s Ngannou, who has no pedigree as a southpaw.
“Standing in that position, Tyson had no answers. Whereas Ngannou tried that for about four seconds against Anthony Joshua and Anthony Joshua knocked him on his ass!” Haye explained honestly.
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