WBA, WBO & IBF heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk has once again called out WBC Champion, Tyson Fury, for an undisputed bout to determine who is the best in the world – and it’s getting personal.
Fans were perhaps expecting the fight to be happening a little sooner following Usyk’s victory over Anthony Joshua, however niggling injuries will keep him out of action until early next year.
Nevertheless, the Ukrainian champion, who is known for his naturally funny demeanour, has decided to take a dig at Fury, calling him a Borracho (which is Spanish slang for drunkard), whilst appealing for a historic undisputed heavyweight clash in an. As always, he said it with a big smile on his face, as captured by SecondsOut.
“Undisputed is extremely important, especially when you have that kind of chance, it doesn’t happen really often. I’m appealing to Tyson Fury, hey Tyson, Borracho [Drunkard], let’s make it happen. Let’s make a present to the boxing fans, let’s fight, let’s determine who is the best in the division, who is the best in the world.”
Whilst the phrase was uttered in a joking manner, the intent behind it was there. The Ukrainian is clear in his goal to take the ‘Gypsy King’s’ WBC crown, and perhaps this route will get him there quicker. It’s a change in roles as Fury is usually more likely to result to name-calling, being particularly fond of referencing Usyk’s previous campaigns at lower weight classes by calling him ‘middleweight.’
Both fighters will go into the bout as undefeated and the boxing world is split in, what appears on paper to be, one of the pick ‘em fights of 2023 and a scrap that simply must be made. Thankfully for fans, Fury has made it clear that he fancies the fight too – and his team want fans to know that a December fight with Derek Chisora is to keep busy before the Usyk bout.
After a dismal end to 2022, which has seen the demise of Crawford-Spence, Fury-Joshua and the bitterly disappointing collapse of Eubank-Benn, an undisputed heavyweight title clash would be exactly what the sport needs to get back on track and bring light to what has been a dark few months for the sport.