October 26, 2024
23 seconds
Fans have reacted after Tyson Fury claimed that Oleksandr Usyk was a much easier opponent than he thought.
Fury lost a split decision as Usyk became the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion. However, the fight showed that Usyk was more than a capable opponent for Fury. The Ukrainian was dominant in the earlier parts of the fight and finished the much stronger fighter, while Fury’s success came in the middle rounds. The turning point in the fight was the ninth round when Usyk almost knocked out Fury. He landed a massive left hand to buzz the Gypsy King, followed by numerous combinations.
Fury was bouncing off the ropes. When Usyk was ready to get the knockout, the referee intervened by imposing a standing eight count. Even after the count, there were suggestions that the fight should have been stopped after Fury walked forward slowly. The Gypsy King ultimately made it to the final bell as Usyk got the decision. Looking back at the fight, Fury was adamant that he had won, as shown in his post-fight comments. Now, he has said that Usyk was not as tough as he thought he would be.
Fury On Usyk
“Being honest, as I always am, it was actually easier than I thought it would be. I listened to Tony Bellew, and I listened to AJ (Anthony Joshua), and they said this guy is so hard to hit, he’s The Matrix. So I’m thinking this guy must be really hard to hit. I’m expecting to be missing him a lot. But in realistic terms he was much easier to hit than I anticipated and it got me a little bit complacent because every time I threw an uppercut to the body or the head, or a feint, I would hit him,” Fury said
Nevertheless, it is important to look at what Fury had said before the fight. He repeatedly referred to Usyk as a blown-up middleweight, calling him a rabbit and stating that he should retire if he could not beat the Ukrainian. Fury also said that a good small boxer always loses to a bigger, better boxer. However, Usyk defied the odds even when giving up 40 pounds in weight and having a seven-inch reach disadvantage. While it was a split decision, many in the boxing community felt that it should have been unanimous.
Fury may well say that Usyk was not as tough, but compared to his other fights, the Gypsy King was not anywhere near in trouble as he had been against the Ukrainian. The Wilder knockdowns were not from repeated combinations. But the Usyk barrage was following by targeted shots to the body and head. And yet, the Gypsy King has shown that he can bounce back when he defeated Deontay Wilder in the rematches. But is this all talk designed to convince Fury he can win? So, the question remains whether he can avenge the loss.
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