WBC heavyweight champion Tyson ‘The Gypsy King’ Fury 32-0-1 (23) is adamant that unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk 19-0 (13) will retain the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight championships in his rematch against Anthony Joshua 24-2 (22) in Saudi Arabia on August 20.
The 33-year-old Brit is coming off a dominant sixth-round knockout victory over mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte 28-3 (19) in London in April.
He announced his retirement after the bout but many fans and pundits still expect him to box again.
Britain’s Joshua, 32, is coming off a loss to Usyk, 35, in London last September when he was clearly out-boxed by the Ukrainian southpaw.
Joshua was criticised for trying to box with Usyk, with the former undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world using his speed, movement and angles to keep the bigger man at bay.
In the wake of that loss Joshua sought a new trainer and ended up settling for Californian Robert Garcia.
The American is expected to get Joshua to box in a more aggressive manner, using the height, reach, power and strength that made him so successful in the past.
Fury doesn’t see it that way.
“I just think Usyk’s too cute for him,” Fury told Gareth A. Davies. “Too smart, too quick and a southpaw. I think with Robert Garcia trying to train him to go on the front foot and be aggressive will only enable Usyk to land more often. I just don’t see it but then again, what do I know.”
However Fury did give credit to Joshua, who he believes had some success against Usyk despite employing the wrong game plan and failing to adjust.
“In heavyweight boxing it only takes one punch,” Fury said.
“It wasn’t a complete landslide last time, Usyk had a lot of marks on his face. He was cut up. He’s not hard to hit, Usyk, he’s right there in front of you so obviously Joshua can land a big punch on him.”
A win for Joshua will make him a three time world champion after previously losing his three belts to Andy Ruiz Jr 34-2 (22) before reversing the result in their immediate rematch.
“Anyone can win a fight as we’ve seen many, many times,” Fury said. “It’s a good time to beat Usyk now because he’s been at war for however long.
“If ever he was going to be off his ball, now is the time. I just think that Usyk’s too good of a boxer for AJ and I don’t think AJ has got the ability to pressurize him for 12 rounds, drag him into a dog fight and knock him out.
“You have to be an elite, special human being for that and I don’t think Joshua possesses that will to win to do that. He’s happy to come second place, he’s too easily happy to come second position.
“If you’re willingly settled for second, say no more.”
