Former professional boxer Tony Bellew has spoken out about the potential fight between current IBF, WBA, and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and WBC champion Tyson Fury, predicting that Fury’s new Kronk Gym training under American coach Sugarhill Steward could be his downfall.
Bellew expressed his belief that Fury’s new aggressive style of fighting, which involves throwing a single punch followed by a clinch and then leaning, is perfect for Usyk’s precise counter-punching. He went on to say that Fury has been reduced to the lowest elements of fighting, turning into a Frankenstein-esque type of fighter.
Sugarhill Steward has been credited with turning Fury into a plodding fighter that is as basic as they come and easy to figure out, no longer the masterful dancer that he once was. Bellew describes Fury’s approach as an old tactic used by former heavyweight champion John ‘The Quiet Man’ Ruiz. While it works, it’s not aesthetically pleasing and can be neutralized by nimble fighters who avoid being grabbed.
It’s unclear whether the Fury-Usyk fight will happen, as Fury reportedly asked for too much money from the Saudis and spoiled his chances of fighting there. Bellew believes that Fury purposefully sabotaged the talks so he could continue to make easy money fighting old scrubs with no chance of beating him.
While Fury is heading back to the UK to fight at Wembley Stadium, with or possibly without Usyk, Bellew believes that nobody really wants to fight Usyk. He believes that if anyone is going to beat Fury, it will be Usyk, who is consistently good at making his opponents miss and paying for 12 rounds.
Despite this, Bellew reminds us that Fury is still the number one fighter in the division and cannot be overlooked. It remains to be seen what the future holds for these two champions, but Bellew’s insights into their styles and approaches provide a fascinating perspective on this potential match-up.