Dmitry Bivol has some advice for Tyson Fury ahead of his fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
Bivol is in camp himself for his first fight of 2023. It comes against Lyndon Arthur in defence of his WBA light heavyweight title on the high card in Saudi Arabia on December 23, also featuring the likes of Deontay Wilder versus Joseph Parker, Anthony Joshua versus Otto Wallin and Daniel Dubois versus Jarrell Miller.
Bivol had a huge 2022 that saw him take a unanimous points win over Gilberto Ramirez in November following on from the same result against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in May.
Canelo has long since stated he would like a rematch but following his win over Demetrius Andrade, David Benavidez has also said he might move up to challenge for Bivol’s titles.
Despite being inactive this year through injury, Bivol has been keeping an eye on the sport and was ringside in October for WBC champion Fury’s difficult ten-round bout with Francis Ngannou
He wasn’t impressed with what he saw. Speaking to FightHub TV, he expressed his shock at Fury’s showing.
“I was surprised. I didn’t give Francis too much expectation but he was good. He was good and Tyson was so bad today to be honest.”
He was then asked about what bearing that fight has on Fury’s chances against Oleksandr Usyk when the pair face off for the undisputed title on February 17.
“Fury needs to have a good training camp before Usyk. If we see this Fury against Usyk, we know what will happen to be honest. Usyk is big favourite now for the fight.”
The undisputed fight between the Brit and Ukrainian will be the first of its kind since the days of Lennox Lewis.
