Tyson Fury has “never seen footwork” like that of Oleksandr Usyk, according to Tony Bellew. The man who lost to Usyk – the now-unified heavyweight king – via knockout in his final cruiserweight fight lavished praise on the Ukrainian. He says Fury will be left “chasing a ghost” when they fight for all the marbles, live on TNT Sports Box Office on May 18.
Oleksandr Usyk has been backed to win his undisputed heavyweight championship showdown with Tyson Fury by former opponent Tony Bellew.
After protracted negotiations and a postponement, boxing’s glamour division will finally get its showpiece event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 18, live on TNT Sports Box Office.
Fury will put up his WBC crown, while at risk for Usyk are his unified WBA, WBO, IBF and Ring Magazine belts – gained having twice beaten another British superstar in Anthony Joshua.
If the Ukrainian wins, he’ll be the third man to clean up in two weight classes, following in the footsteps of Naoya Inoue and Terence Crawford, both of whom achieved the feat last year.
Usyk’s previous sweep of a division came at cruiserweight, with his final fight at 200 pounds coming against Bellew in 2018.
Though Fury is the more experienced man at heavyweight, with the height and reach advantage that comes with his natural size, Usyk has technique like no other – a factor Bellew believes will ultimately prove key.
He told fellow former fighter Carl Froch, via the Froch on Fighting podcast: “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. He will leave Fury no option but to attack him, because he’ll build up an early lead and Fury will be chasing a ghost.
“Fury is not going to be running after Usyk like a madman because that would be playing into his hands, but there are times he will have to press and that’s where he’ll fall short.
“Usyk’s feet are exceptional. I’ve never seen feet like his ever before. Usyk has seen people like Fury before – he’s come up against the likes of Joe Joyce, he’s fought big, big heavyweights. He’s fought Anthony Joshua – the second-biggest punching heavyweight in the world. He’s been in there with big guys – it doesn’t phase him.
“His judgement of distance…his front foot is so close to you all the time, and you think he’s in range but he’s actually not. I can’t put into words how good he is – the best I faced, by a mile. Fury will never have seen footwork like this.
“Once Usyk’s had a good look and set his traps and figured you out completely…he’s an absolutely formidable, fantastic fighter.”
Joshua has also given his backing to Usyk in the fight against Fury, saying he is a “phenomenal” boxer.
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