Following Oleksandr Usyk’s win over Daniel Dubois, many have had their predictions as to how he would fare against Tyson Fury changed or cemented.
That includes Deontay Wilder’s trainer and former heavyweight, Malik Scott.
Speaking to ES News back in 2021, Scott said that Fury and his new less-mobile fighting style would be perfect for Usyk ‘to operate off of.’
“I believe that the Tyson Fury that fought Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder the first time, I believe that Tyson Fury gives Usyk all kinds of fits. The movement, the reflexes Tyson Fury – I believe this Tyson Fury right now, I believe Usyk would beat.
“The heavier Tyson Fury that’s coming forwards, that wants to take chances and put his weight on people. I think that is a perfect system for Usyk to operate off of.”
Since then, Usyk has beaten Anthony Joshua once more to retain his unified titles. More recently – and pertinently – he stopped Daniel Dubois in the ninth round of his first mandatory defence.
During the August bout, the Ukrainian was dropped by a shot that was immediately ruled a low blow. In the aftermath, many have argued that it was a legal punch. Plenty more say it proves a long-running theory that he is vulnerable to body shots.
With this latest showing in mind, Scott told Malik Scott that he now has to favour Fury.
“From the last performance, you have to lean towards Fury. For the last few months since the fight has been talked about I’ve being going 50/50.”
“We done seen Usyk go down from body shots before, get rattled from body shots before. I believe he can take a hell of a head shot – besides Deontay Wilder’s.”
Talks for the undisputed bout have reportedly started once again, despite Fury having a fight next month against MMA star Francis Ngannou and Usyk being ordered to fight his next challenger, Filip Hrgovic.