Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk look to make history in the heavyweight division by fighting to crown the first four-belt undisputed champion.
Fury, who brings the WBC belt to the table, has signed to face Usyk – WBA, WBO and IBF champ – following his crossover bout with Francis Ngannou this month, with the event expected in early 2024.
Should ‘The Gypsy King’ be able to pull it off, he will be just the second fighter from the UK to become undisputed in the four-belt era – the first being Scotland’s Josh Taylor.
Taylor reigned as sole super-lightweight titlist from May 2021 for a year following a campaign in the trenches culminating in his crowning moment against José Ramírez in Las Vegas – a unanimous decision victory.
And Taylor told Gareth A Davies that, although Usyk would prove to be tricky, the Brit would be leaving the ring undisputed once again.
He subscribes to the idea that the Ukrainian will simply not be big enough to beat Fury, but says he’ll be a ‘nightmare’ for lineal champion.
“I think Usyk gives him a hell of a lot of of problems with his movement, his style, his shot picking and stuff, that’s for sure. I think he would be a bit of a nightmare for Tyson in terms of Tyson trying to nail him down with his movement.
But – I’ve always said it – a good big one beats a good little one. I just think Tyson’s too big and too powerful for Usyk. I do think Usyk will give him huge problems with his tactics, but I’ve always said I think Tyson would just be a little bit too big, also with a good boxing brain as well.
He’s too big to be beaten by Usyk. Daniel Dubois gave him a little problem with those body shots.”
Once Fury’s crossover bout with Ngannou is done and dusted, it’s expected a fight date will be announced. Usyk will be ringside for the event.