Tyson Fury doesn’t believe that size will play a factor when he faces Oleksandr Usyk on May 18 for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
Fury stands six inches taller than his rival Usyk and normally weighs in around 50 pounds heavier than the former undisputed cruiserweight champion. The 6ft 9ins heavyweight is known for using his size to break his opponents down, using it effectively in his three fights against Deontay Wilder. Despite his huge size advantage, Fury doesn’t think it will play a part after Usyk proved he can handle big heavyweights with his performances against Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
“It won’t come down to, ‘He’s bigger than me or he’s smaller than me,’” Fury told Queensberry Promotions. “I think it will come down to who wants it most on the night. If he wants it more than me, he will win and if I want it more than him, I’ll win, but either way I think we’re in for a real treat.
“He’s proved he can mix it with the big heavyweights, he’s beat Joshua and Dubois – they’re pretty big heavyweights. I’m messing with an elite fighter who’s got more than boxing ability, he’s stubborn and wants to win like I do. We both have talent, we both have good attributes and bad attributes, it will come down to who wants it most on the night.”
Fury has been critical of Usyk in the build-up for their fight, jibing at his opponent’s size and appearance, but insisted that he still has respect for his opponent and his achievements. Fury even compared his foe to boxing great Evander Holyfield, who too was undisputed cruiserweight champion before moving up to heavyweight.
“Usyk is a bad man,” added Fury. “He’s a real bad man and any underestimation of Oleksandr Usyk – you’d be a mug. I’m training hard for him, I’m doing everything I can, I respect Usyk as a man. I respect his career as well, he’s been Olympic champion, he’s had 350 amateur fights or something, and he’s been an undisputed cruiserweight champion, and he’s a unified heavyweight champion. So, you have to respect that. I’m not fighting a guy that’s had 14 and won 11, I’m fighting the real deal, as real a deal as Holyfield. I’m looking forward to the challenge.