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Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk: Who's Got the Edge?
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After months of will-they-won't-they speculation, the heavyweight clash boxing purists want to see has finally been confirmed. Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk put it all on the line over 12 rounds to fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.
It's taken some time to get to this moment. The pair were originally supposed to fight last April before talks fell through, with the Ukrainian accusing Fury of being too greedy. After much wrangling around prize money throughout the year, a date was finally provisionally agreed for the two to fight on December 23.
However, a non-title fight performance against UFC great Francis Ngannou by Fury in October 2023 derailed the best-laid plans.
Some observers believe Fury got away with a questionable split decision. He had to come back from the canvas after being put down in round three in what was dubbed a lethargic and uninspiring performance. He also suffered two cuts in the outing, and the fight was moved back nearly two months to give Fury time to recover and reassess.
It will be the first undisputed heavyweight title fight since Lennox Lewis unified his WBC title with Evander Holyfield's WBA and IBF titles in 1997.
Can Fury add to his status as one of the greatest of all time? Or will Usyk come out on top and go 22 wins from 22 bouts?
We've asked MightyTips ambassador and undefeated boxer Jevgenijs' The Hurricane' Aleksejevs his opinion on the contest, break down all the need-to-know details of the fight, and much more in our full fight preview below. Remember, you can find the best sportsbooks with boxing betting options at MightyTips, a dedicated resource for all boxing betting enthusiasts.
Where And When Is The Fight?
The action will unfold at The Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 17, 2024.
You can join the action using bookmakers active in Europe, insightful sports betting tips, and much more, at MightyTips.com.
The Hurricane's Take
This fight has the purists and experts lining up to give their opinion to anyone who will listen. But the only thought we're giving any weight to is that of The Hurricane, a newly appointed MightyTips Ambassador.
Our man carries an unblemished professional boxing record of 15-0, and his latest win over David Veron - a unanimous decision on the cards (60-53, 60-53 and 60-54) - makes him one of the most exciting up-and-coming prospects in international boxing.
He gives his sports betting forecasts ahead of what will be one of the biggest fights of modern times.
The only thing you can be sure of about when predicting this fight is a promise of uncertainty. It is a question with no simple answer. Usyk has previously defeated opponents bigger than him, like [Daniel] Dubois and [Dereck] Chisora. But Fury is a fighter with a unique combination of boxing skills and physical build. It all makes for an unpredictable bout.
Six months ago, I would have chosen Fury based on his impressive physique compared to Usyk. But the Fury vs Ngannou fight raised many questions about Fury's preparation. Will he be able to cope with Usyk's fast footwork? Will he find the means to limit Usyk's mobility?
On the other hand, [Anthony] Joshua troubled Usyk a lot with his body shots when the two met. Fury is believed to be an even more skilled fighter, so Usyk might find himself in difficult situations more often.
I can't make my mind up on this, it is 50-50 for me. While I believed in Fury due to his anthropometric advantage, it was before the Ngannou fight. Having seen that, I find the plot of this fight much less predictable.
The Hurricane thinks it's too close to call! What's your best bet?
Remember, at MightyTips you can find mobile betting platforms for boxing that provide in-play and live streaming options and the best new client sportsbook offers.
Follow the boxer @ealeksеev on TikTok, Instagram and Youtube for the latest updates on his career. For business inquiries, contact his manager at maria.gritsak@mightytips.com.
Updated: The Fight Has Been Rescheduled
During intense sparring in the lead-up to the fight, Fury copped a deep and nasty cut to his eye, forcing the fight to be postponed. According to sources, the wound needed "urgent medical attention" and "significant stitching”.
In a statement, Fury said he was “absolutely devastated” to be postponing the fight:
I feel bad for everyone involved in this huge event and I will work diligently towards the rescheduled date once the eye is healed.
While these things can happen in boxing, it would be a costly misadventure for a similar situation to happen again. A new condition imposed by Saudi advisor Turki Alalshikh, the mediator of the bout, means both fighters will forfeit $10 million if either party pulls out.
The fight will now take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 18, 2024.
