Shelly Finkel has waded in to the hottest debate in the heavyweights right now – Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk?
Having managed the likes of Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and, most recently, Deontay Wilder, Finkel knows the heavyweight scene well. He’s in the boxing hall-of-fame for his efforts.
The biggest fight the division can offer just now – at least in terms of legacy – is Fury facing Usyk for all the belts. In that undisputed clash, Finkel told BT Sport that he was backing ‘The Gypsy King.’
“My gut is Fury. I just think he’s too big, and he’s a talented fighter. He’s talented. He got dropped hard by Deontay – you can dispute whether it was too long the count or not – he got up, and he won. He got up and finished.”
Much has been made about the difference in size, and many believe that Usyk’s task is made tougher by the fact that Fury has the boxing skills to back up the bulk.
Still, the Ukrainian is unfazed, just as he was against Anthony Joshua, and his team have even claimed to have spotted weaknesses in ‘The Gypsy King’s performance against Derek Chisora. The 20-0 former undisputed cruiserweight champion is confident he can make history.
Fury, of course, fancies it too. In fact, he’s on record saying that he doesn’t believe his opponent makes it past the sixth round.
All of the predictions will be proved right or wrong when the two champions meet in the ring, and things behind the scenes to make that happen are said to be going well.
The targeted dates are currently the last week in February or first in March, and it’s expected both men will earn a pretty penny by making the Middle East hosts.