A number of boxing’s big names give their thoughts on who will triumph in Saturday’s historic heavyweight showdown.
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Tyson Fury is bidding to become the first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield in 1999.
Ahead of Fury’s historic showdown against Oleksandr Usyk, past and present names such as Roy Jones Jr, Lawrence Okolie, Joe Joyce and people close to the Gypsy King including co-nutritionist George Lockhart and cutman Jorge Capetillo, gave Betway their predictions for the fight.
Roy Jones Jr: My prediction before that fight was that Tyson Fury would win but it’s going to be a lot tougher now because of the fact of the last fight.
Tyson Fury knew Francis Ngannou was a type of guy he wasn’t supposed to struggle with but I have to go with Tyson Fury. You’ve got to back in history, but he will rank pretty high because nobody has beaten Oleksandr Usyk yet and if he does, he is going to be remembered highly.
Joe Joyce: It’s the best of the best and I am eagerly awaiting it like everybody else is. Tyson Fury is still younger than me but he has been in the game all of his life and has had a long professional career so we will have to wait and see (whether he is still on top).
I always thought Tyson Fury would beat him but then with the performance from Oleksandr Usyk in both Anthony Joshua fights, he can throw a lot of punches. Styles make fights and it will be interesting to see how it goes down.
George Lockart: Tyson looks great and is in amazing shape. I saw the transformation; he’s looking lean and strong. The thing about Tyson is, he is an animal, a beast and will go in there with the reach, cardio, boxing IQ, power and size so it will be a very difficult night for Oleksandr Usyk.
Lawrence Okolie: I think Tyson Fury will win that fight. He’s a bit too big, too experienced with boxers and he’s got a great style that can adapt. The things that Oleksandr Usyk is good at is going to get nullified.
Oleksandr Usyk is really good at getting in and at, causing pressure and throwing shots whereas Tyson Fury is so much bigger, he’ll be able to shut it down by giving it a good step back or a step forward. I think it is going to take a lot of work for a 36-year-old Usyk to do what needs to be done but you can never completely write him off.
Spike O’Sullivan: Thomas Carty has been sparring Tyson Fury since December, so he had been training with him for 2 months and was taking Oleksandr Usyk seriously. He did look in good shape and it was the best I had ever seen him. He was more ripped than usually, and Fury is under pressure as he knows he is in a real fight and knows he can lose.
Jorge Capetillo: Tyson has a tremendous craft and is a tremendous talent and I think we are going to see a better version this time against Oleksandr Usyk. What happened with Francis, it surprised him with his size and frame.
Tyson is more conscious to display a better performance against Oleksandr Usyk. I believe not only his boxing skills, but his height, reach, speed and ring IQ will see him become undisputed champion. This is the fight the world wants to see, and I spoke to Tyson recently and he told me how he was in great spirits and was excited to put on the best performance of his career.
