The one and only former undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight champion, Evander Holyfield, could see a new fighter join him as the second man to truly conquer both divisions, as Oleksandr Usyk sets out to make history against Tyson Fury this weekend. Ahead of what is sure to be a tactical battle for the ages, Holyfield offered his thoughts on the approach that each man should take.
‘The Real Deal’ took part in the most recent undisputed heavyweight title contest when he faced Lennox Lewis in a rematch back in 1999, losing out by unanimous-decision, after a contentious draw in their first encounter eight months prior, that many fans felt Lewis deserved to win.
A quarter of a century later and the undisputed heavyweight throne is up for grabs once again, with Fury and Usyk set to be crowned as the first ever four-belt champion of the division.
In an interview with TNT Sports, Holyfield explained the game plans that each of the champions should adopt in what will surely be the biggest test in each of their respective careers.
“Both of the fighters are great fighters but both of them fight two different styles. I think that if the fight becomes not very aggressive, I think that it favours Tyson Fury. If the fight becomes a busy fight, very close, I think that it is going to come out to Usyk.
“Usyk is a guy that, when it comes down to just fighting, he is a fighter. Tyson Fury is a thinking fighter, if things get to be slow, there is a good chance that he will win.
“Size has something to do with the style of fight that you fight, he [Tyson Fury] is the tall guy so if he can keep him out there [at range], he has the longer arms and of course he is going to win. If they get close, then I think it will come down to whoever has got the faster hands, then the little guy has got faster hands, he takes a good shot and he is always busy.”
“I was just like Usyk, I was one of them type of fighters but if I don’t fight the right fight then I am not going to win them all. That’s pretty much the same as when I fought Lennox Lewis, he is the long, tall fighter, he is going to get there faster if I stay away from him. If I stay on him, then I can get him.”
The event will go ahead on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and is available for purchase on DAZN PPV, TNT Sports Box Office and Sky Sports Box Office, as Fury-Usyk tops an undercard that features an additional two world title contests between Jai Opetaia and Mairis Briedis (IBF cruiserweight), as well as Joe Cordina versus Anthony Cacace (IBF super-featherweight).
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