Despite the highly anticipated clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, being delayed until May, the boxing world is still abuzz with excitement.
The bout will determine the undisputed champion of the heavyweight division, with both fighters looking to solidify their legacies.
The ‘Gypsy King’ is the heavy favourite in the Fury vs Usyk odds. Still, the Ukrainian has already silenced his doubters since stepping up to the Blue Riband weight class — notably, beating Anthony Joshua twice — and Fury cannot underestimate Usyk.
A closer examination of their recent performances raises the debate of whether Fury and Usyk have had their weaknesses exposed in their last fights. So, let’s delve deeper into that.
Fury’s scare against Francis Ngannou
Fury’s most recent outing saw him face former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in October – a bout that nearly turned into one of the sport’s greatest upsets.
In the third round, Ngannou landed a left hook that sent Fury to the canvas — threatening to rewrite the narrative of the fight.
Although Fury recovered and secured a split-decision victory, the knockdown exposed a potential vulnerability in the Gypsy King’s defence.
Usyk’s controversial encounter with Daniel Dubois
Usyk’s last fight against Daniel Dubois in Poland was not without controversy, either, as Dubois appeared to land a body punch in the fifth round that sent the unified heavyweight champion to the canvas.
However, the referee ruled it a low blow — granting Usyk over three minutes to recover and regroup in his corner.
The Ukrainian ultimately won in the ninth round, but the contentious ruling left many questioning whether Dubois had been denied a rightful victory.
Learning from adversity
As Fury and Usyk prepare for their historic clash, both fighters and their teams undoubtedly studied their opponent’s recent fights for potential weaknesses to exploit.
Usyk, similar in height to Ngannou, may take note of how the MMA crossover athlete found success against Fury’s guard and sent him to the canvas.
On the flip side, Fury could be eyeing Usyk’s midsection after witnessing his vulnerability to body shots in the Dubois fight.
Strategies unveiled
The controversies and challenges in their recent bouts may have revealed chinks in the armour, but it’s crucial to acknowledge that both Fury and Usyk are elite athletes who learn and adapt.
Camps on both sides have likely focused on shoring up these perceived weaknesses, making the upcoming clash even more intriguing in the boxing odds.
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As the ‘Ring of Fire’ approaches, boxing enthusiasts eagerly await to see whether Fury and Usyk have successfully addressed the vulnerabilities exposed in their recent fights.
The scrutiny surrounding Fury’s knockdown by Ngannou and Usyk’s controversial encounter with Dubois adds an extra layer of intrigue to this historic matchup.
With both fighters undoubtedly aiming to rectify their flaws, the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh is set to witness a battle that could redefine the narrative of heavyweight boxing.
