Tyson Fury’s unsuccessful bid for the undisputed heavyweight throne will live long in the memory as a heavyweight classic, although it is likely a memory that is eating away at the Brit, as he desperately seeks revenge. Thankfully, ‘The Gypsy King’ will get the chance to avenge the lone defeat of his career, and his friend and two-division world champion Billy Joe Saunders, has offered a surprise prediction for Fury’s second meeting with Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury put his WBC crown on the line against the unified champion back in May in what was the first undisputed heavyweight title clash of the 21st century. However, after seemingly cruising for throughout the first half of the contest, it was the Ukrainian who turned the tide and took control of the bout, almost stopping Fury in the ninth-round before boxing his way to a deserved split-decision win.
In an interview with talkSPORT, Saunders appeared to agree with Fury’s theory that he was actually finding it too easy against the Ukrainian technician and insinuating that the previously undefeated 6’9” giant got too complacent, before revealing his knowledge of errors during the build-up.
“The first five rounds was like a sparring session for him. Actually, I’ve seen him have harder spars for the first five rounds than that fight. If he’s getting his own way early on, he tends to switch off. If he gets knocked out cold on the floor and people don’t think he’s getting up and he gets up, that’s when he switches his gears up.
“You’ve got to give him credit. I know there’s a lot of speculation about the ninth round, but he didn’t go down and he was still on his feet fighting.
“I’m not making any excuses for him, but I know what went on in camp and what didn’t go on in camp. I know that, even when it came to sparring and other bits and bobs, there was stuff missing out of it that needs to be rectified this time.”
However, despite admitting that Fury will not be able to outsmart Usyk, Saunders outlined his belief that his compatriot will not only triumph over the 2012 Olympic gold medallist, but that he will knock him out.
“I don’t think there’s anyone out there than can outbox Usyk,”
“Tyson Fury, he can beat Usyk three times in one night with one simple game plan.
“It’s very, very simple how to beat him. You have to use your size. You have to use your physical advantages. Every attribute you have you need to use to full effect with this man.
“He’s asked me to go away [for] training camp with him, so I’m delighted to say I will be going away with him.”
“I believe Tyson will win the next fight, and I believe that he will win by knockout as well.”
Usyk-Fury II takes place on December 21st in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with yet another impressive undercard expected to be announced by Turki Al-Alshikh in the coming weeks.
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