Former heavyweight and current trainer to Deontay Wilder, Malik Scott, has changed his prediction for an undisputed bout between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk based on form.
The two champions – Usyk the WBA, WBO and IBF and Fury the WBC – put pen to paper recently for a four-belt fight in Saudi Arabia targeted as early as December 23 or early next year.
Whilst the official date is yet to be announced, the contracts are said to be binding, meaning the heavyweight division will have its first sole champion since Lennox Lewis.
So who will it be? When making predictions, fans have the benefit of seeing the Ukrainian out just months ago against his mandatory challenger, Daniel Dubois.
Despite getting the ninth round stoppage, Usyk was dropped by a low-blow that many feel was borderline and should have counted as a body shot.
It’s this potential vulnerability that has made Scott change his prediction for the Fury fight, as per ES News.
“At one time I liked the fight 50/50, now I would go with Fury 70/30.
How [Usyk] looked his last fight against Dubois, I wasn’t really big on that performance. He did very well, I just know what he can do. The [Usyk] that fought Anthony Joshua two times, I like that. He needs those performances for 50/50.
Right now, we’ll favour Fury, I’m sure four weeks from now we’ll favour Usyk.”
Fans, pundits and fellow fighters have no fight this year to check the momentum of the Brit, who was last out in a one-sided win over Derek Chisora in December of 2022.
Before his fight with Usyk is cemented, he will welcome MMA Star Francis Ngannou to the boxing ring on October 28 for a Saudi spectacle. Most feel it won’t be enough of a test to show his form.