Ahead of their heavyweight showdown next month, Tyson Fury has no reservations about believing the victory will be in his favour. The WBC heavyweight champion, speaking recently, spoke about the heavyweight division and said Usyk could beat the average fighters, referencing former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, but would not be able to stop him. 

He said: “We have weight divisions for a reason. When the cruiserweights step up to the big boys, they usually get found wanting. You can beat the average big ones, but you can’t beat the elite big ones because size really matters.”

It is clear that the 35-year-old is not phased by Usyk’s fast pace in the division where he now occupies three of the four belts, when he was the undisputed cruiserweight champion only a few years ago. If anything, Fury is impressed by that feat and says his issue with Usyk is “strictly business”: “It’s not personal. It’s strictly business for both fighters. There’s a lot of stuff on the line, but I don’t hate him. I respect him as a man, as a fighter.

“Anyone would have to respect the man’s achievements. He’s unified heavyweight champion, undisputed cruiserweight champion.”

Despite the acknowledgment, Fury does not believe the Ukrainian stands a chance against him when they meet next month and believes without a doubt he is going to be the first heavyweight champion in the heavyweight division for the first time in decades. 

There is a lot at stake for this fight, and both parties know. For now, it is unclear whether there is a rematch clause attached to the original contract they signed, which would give the loser the opportunity to ask for a rematch after the first fight. But if that were to be in place, it does not stop the fight from being any less anticipated and one of the biggest fights we would witness in recent times.

Leon Osamor