Although he was an undisputed cruiserweight champion and is yet to lose at heavyweight, not many people seem to be backing Oleksandr Usyk to come out on top in his much-anticipated fight with Tyson Fury – but one former world champion thinks he beats ‘The Gypsy King.’
The fight – announced as signed – is yet to have an exact date or venue confirmed, as first Fury must get through his 10-round fight with Francis Ngannou on October 28 without any cuts or injuries.
Should that bout pass without too much incident, as many expect, then the road will be clear for the first undisputed fight in 24 years as Fury puts his WBC belt against Usyk’s IBF, WBA and WBO.
Speaking to FightHub TV, former WBA lightweight champion Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini says he hasn’t been all out impressed with Fury like many have.
“I pick Usyk. Fury’s a big strong guy who can move. I’ve never been a Fury fan in the sense that he’s a great fighter, no. He beat Wilder, but Wilder is Wilder, a big puncher, but he doesn’t do anything else.”
He then detailed why he thinks Usyk will have what it takes to come out on top.
“Usyk has a high boxing IQ. He has the amateur background, this guy is the real deal. He gives you angles, he knows how to fight big guys. I pick him to win. I think his angles will be on point.
He punches in straight lines. I think he will give problems to Fury every which way and that he beats Fury, I really do. If Fury didn’t think he was a headache for him, he would have taken it in a minute. That didn’t happen.”
Bob Arum has claimed that Fury will be pocketing somewhere in the region of $200m for the fight. Whether he can add four belts to that pot remains to be seen on the night.