Tyson Fury seems to think that he will be much too big for Oleksandr Usyk to compete against him – but the Ukrainian disagrees.
Whilst Fury looks set to move into the fight with Usyk, he’s on record saying that he believes it to be an easy night for him. His constant jibes calling his fellow champion a ‘middleweight’ paint the picture that ‘The Gypsy King’ reckons he’s too big, too strong for Usyk to compete.
Unsurprisingly, the Ukrainian isn’t fazed. So far, he’s answered any heavyweight questions that have been asked of him, which have included Derek Chisora and former unified champion, Anthony Joshua, twice.
He believes that there’s something more important than bulk – and conveyed it to Boxing Social in the symbolic speak he’s becoming known for.
“The engine is much more important than the fuselage.”
The Ukrainian’s analysis can be interpreted two ways. An engine in boxing is commonly the fitness levels to keep fighting. Usyk has shown his ability in this regard on a number of occasions, perhaps never more so than his effort against Anthony Joshua in August.
Despite being caught well by Joshua in the ninth, the champion came out and found a home for 39 punches in the tenth – the most any fighter has landed in a round against ‘AJ.’ Usyk, of course, went on to win the fight and retain his belts.
The Ukrainian fighter may also just be referring to what’s inside rather than out – ring craft, heart, ability. Either way, both him and Fury can make good cases to have it all – which is why fans are so intrigued by the fight.
Usyk told Sky Sports that the world is waiting for an undisputed champion.
“The whole United Kingdom, the whole world, especially Ukraine, everybody wants to see this fight happening.”
Negotiations are set to ramp up now that neither man has other plans, and an announcement – or at least an update – is expected before the turn of the year.