A former sparring partner of both men has criticised the corner work of Tyson Fury’s team during his epic undisputed battle with Oleksandr Usyk this past weekend.
Both fighters went into the contest unbeaten and all four major world titles were on the line for the first time in one contest since 1999 when Lennox Lewis was the man man to hold them all.
In a tight, technical fight there was plenty of back and forth but Usyk eventually managed to pull away and win a split decision, helped by Fury having a standing eight count in the second half of the fight.
Since the end of the contest, there has been discussion about Fury’s corner which saw his usual coach Sugar Hill and his father John Fury both giving advice, and it was sometimes contradictory, while Lennox Lewis has also spoken about the tactics being off.
Speaking to Boxing Social, popular British heavyweight Dave Allen revealed his views on the corner work.
“Just too many voices in the corner really, I thought tactically through halfway was spot on case he boxed him and he had to box him ’cause Usyk was so sharp, but you know you cut to the corners.
“Sugar Hill in the corner, he’s the only voice for me but he’s getting advice from John as well, after the knockdown in round 10 get on your bike and have a rest but 11 and 12 you need to win them rounds, he was trying to steal it.
“They’re telling him if you win the last round you’ve won the fight no, by this point you need a knockdown you need to get him out of there.
“I’ve never been in that pressure in the corner so I’m not trying to do anyone down, I just thought there were too many voices in there. Come round 12 I thought Tyson, you really need to go and get this man out of there.
“I thought if you don’t put this man on the floor you won’t win this fight, to see him come out behind his jab I thought no that’s not the one. You need to put it on this guy so I thought tactically, about halfway it started to go wrong for him.”
There is a contracted rematch which could well see both men go at it again later in the year with Fury getting a second shot at the Ukrainian pound-for-pound king.
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