Johnny Nelson believes that Tyson Fury’s reign at the top of the heavyweight division is coming to an end.
‘The Gypsy King’ was taken the distance by former MMA Champion and boxing debutant Francis Ngannou recently, being knocked down on the way to winning an unexpected split decision.
Although he kept a hold of his undefeated record, Fury’s performance – as he admitted himself – was nowhere near his best. In fact, he called Ngannou his toughest opponent in a decade.
Many have said that Fury took the challenge lightly, but the man himself has ensured fans he went through a twelve-week camp.
Speaking to Seconds Out, Nelson said that, if there was full preparation, the WBC Heavyweight Champion’s ‘legs have gone.’
“He was either unprofessional or Tyson Fury has started to slip. His legs have gone. I’m trying to think have his legs gone and he’s started to slip and we’ve now seen it?”
“I am saying to you now – Tyson Fury, if you’re saying you trained your legs have gone. I’m gonna get screamed at, everyone’s gonna give me so much hammer because I’m saying something that nobody’s picked up on. I think his legs have gone.”
“Even if Tyson Fury underestimated him and thought he was a walk in the park, then his basics – jabbing, hitting and moving – should have been enough to keep him off … You might be shocked at me saying it, but look at the fight.”
The former cruiserweight champion turned pundit believes yes-men in Fury’s camp may be avoiding addressing a decline.
“Tyson has surrounded himself with people that are too scared to tell him the truth, which is gonna hinder his reign at the top. For me, he’s the best heavyweight in the world.
That fight made me think the best heavyweight in the world is starting to slip. His advantage was his height, weight, strength, unorthodox style, but once you get to the point where it starts to slip you become vulnerable. And he looked vulnerable.”
Fury’s skillset, form and everything in between will be put to the test in his undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk, now slated for February 2024.