Updated:
Jan 31, 2023
Oleksandr Usyk has continued to troll Tyson Fury on social media as the pair edge closer to finalising a fight for the WBO, IBF, WBA (Super), WBC, and IBO Heavyweight Championships in April. The video shows Usyk running in a swimming pool, hilariously calling out the Gypsy King and then slapping his belly a few times.
“Hey belly, I’m coming for you”
This is not the first time Usyk has referred to Fury as ‘belly’ and it is plausible the undefeated Ukrainian is trying to play his future opponent at his own game. After all, Fury is usually the one winding up his rivals with comical posts and outrageous comments online.
Regardless, due to the magnitude of the bout, there is no extra hype needed because Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury are widely regarded as the two best heavyweights in the world.
Usyk, an Olympic gold medallist, has transitioned into the pro ranks with flying colours. In 2018, he defeated Murray Gassiev to become the first undisputed cruiserweight champion since the legendary Evander Holyfield. And more recently, he outclassed Anthony Joshua on two separate occasions to capture the IBF, IBO, WBA, and WBO Heavyweight titles.
Meanwhile, Fury is the lineal heavyweight champion of the world after outboxing Wladimir Klitchsko over 12 rounds back in 2015 and then beating Deontay Wilder twice to add the WBC belt to his collection. Plus, ‘The Gypsy King’ reiterated his class in his last two fights when he knocked out Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora.
Indeed, both Usyk and Fury have done enough to retire and sail off into the sunset, yet a bout between them may decide who is the best heavyweight of this generation and gift the boxing world the first undisputed heavyweight champion since all-time great, Lennox Lewis.
Besides, their individual styles have the potential to result in a fascinating contest. Fury, a 6’9 giant with phenomenal movement, boxing IQ, punching power, and incredible powers of recovery, versus Usyk, a significantly smaller man with expert boxing skills, superb lateral movement, and quickness.
Frank Warren Is Confident Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury Will Happen
The good news for boxing fans is Queensbury promoter, Frank Warren, seems extremely keen to make sure the bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury comes to fruition.
“We’re working hard on it. It will happen, it will happen. Everybody wants it to happen and it will happen. We’re just working out basically where it’s gonna take place, that’s really it.”
According to reports, two main locations are being looked at for the Fury-Usyk super fight. The first is in the UK at Wembley Stadium where more than 90,000 fans will be able to attend and the Brit will undoubtedly have the bulk of the support.
The second option is in Saudia Arabia, where the purses for both boxers are likely to be bigger and the bout would essentially take place at a neutral location.
Now approaching February, we can only Fury vs Usyk is officially announced sooner rather than later due to ‘The Gyspy King’ having a history of big fights falling through.
Fury was meant to rematch Klitchsko in 2016 but the fight didn’t occur because the Morecambe native was medically unfit to fight. Then, in 2021, he agreed on a two-fight deal with Anthony Joshua, yet was roped into a third bout with Wilder. And in late 2022, there was speculation he would finally share a ring with Joshua, which also fell through.
Nevertheless, at the age of 34 years old, Fury is in the twilight stages of his career, and adding the undisputed status to his resume by becoming the first man to defeat Oleksandr Usyk, might be too lucrative and history-breaking to not occur.
