Heavyweight legend, Mike Tyson, has made his prediction for the most important fight the modern-day division can offer – Tyson Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk.
Tyson is in the history books for becoming the youngest fighter ever to win a world heavyweight title. He didn’t, however, manage to unite all of the belts to become undisputed – something that’s in touching distance for both Fury and Usyk.
Speaking to TalkSPORT, the fighter often known as ‘The Baddest On Man On The Planet’ praised Fury.
“Tyson Fury proved over and over again he’s the best. And I respect Deontay Wilder, Usyk – but the most respect I possess [is for Tyson Fury.] He’s the champ, he’s the reigning champ, and he’s gonna be the champ for as long a time as he chooses – unless we get some new guy up.”
As for a prediction should the undisputed fight go ahead, it’s not surprising to hear that ‘Iron’ Mike doesn’t lean on the difference in size when making his pick given that he himself was a smaller heavyweight himself.
He does, however, stick by his case that none of the current crop can beat Fury, and that includes the elite Ukrainian.
“I never think anybody’s too small, I just think Tyson’s not gonna do what Anthony Joshua did. I think he’s just gonna go out and put a lot of pressure on him.”
For the pick to be proved right or wrong, the fight must first be signed – something that is still up in the air despite promotional promises from as early as December of last year.
The latest stumbling blocks appear to be surrounding the purse split, with Fury’s father, John, recently saying that Usyk wasn’t deserving of 50/50, and demanding he ‘fall in line.’