Former European Heavyweight Champion and Olympic Gold Medallist, Audley Harrison, has made his prediction for the long-awaited undisputed title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk – should it ever happen.
Harrison’s professional career didn’t quite live up to the high expectations following an outstanding amateur pedigree, with a loss to Danny Williams somewhat derailing things in 2005.
Nevertheless, he went on to win the European title with a knockout win over Michael Sprott and challenge David Haye for the world title in his next outing, losing by a knockout in the third round.
Harrison is remembered for laying the foundations for Great Britain, winning the country their first Olympic boxing Gold medal for thirty-two years and earning himself an MBE in the process.
In an interview with ES News, Harrison gave his opinion on a potential fight between the two current heavyweight champions and revealed that there is a clear winner in his mind.
“Fury could always fight, he’s been boxing ever since he was young and people don’t give him the credit, this guy knows boxing and he knows how to fight.
He has all the fundamentals, but he used to always back up. Once he went to Kronk, once he went to SugarHill, he taught him about using that space and how to bully your opponents using your space going forward. It’s a whole different ball game.”
“So, Usyk is going to really struggle to deal with that, because Tyson knows how to fight with his height, knows how to bully you and knows how to close the space.
I definitely give Usyk a chance, but I’d definitely have Fury as the favourite, because he can’t outpunch him, if he puts him down he is going to get up, and the ring intelligence is very similar.”
Despite much speculation, a clash between the pair looks as unlikely as ever, with Fury seeming uninterested in the four-man Saudi tournament that is being touted.