Tyson Fury received an offer for help with a potential undisputed clash against Oleksandr Usyk from an unlikely source recently, with unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev pitching his services to Fury.
Beterbiev, who was in London to face-off with Anthony Yard ahead of their fight in January, attended Fury’s one sided victory over Derek Chisora, after which Usyk took to the ring apron and exchanged glares with ‘The Gypsy King.’
There would be few better placed than Beterbiev to advise Fury on how to approach a bout with the Ukranian. The pair locked horns three times in the amateurs, with Beterbiev winning their first encounter but losing the subsequent two.
And the Russian, after saying he wouldn’t mind the opportunity to get his hands on Usyk as a professional, told Queenberry’s official YouTube channel he’d be more than happy to assist Fury in his preparations if required.
“I can punch him [Usyk] once for fun, just for fun. I will help Tyson Fury if he needs it.”
Whilst no official announcement has been made, talks for Fury – Usyk are said to be progressing well and a lucrative site fee from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reportedly been offered.
As for Beterbiev, he will return to British shores in just a matter of weeks to defending his WBC, IBF and WBO world titles against hard punching Londoner Yarde, who will get his shot at world honours after falling short against Beterbiev’s countryman Sergey Kovalev in 2019.
Beterbiev is considered by many to be the pound for pound hardest puncher in the sport, and is the only world champion to have secured knockout victories in every single one of their fights (17-0, 17 KOs).