Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury are two of the best heavyweights in the world, and their highly anticipated showdown will determine the undisputed champion.
Usyk, the former undisputed light heavyweight champion, has risen quickly through the division ranks. The Ukrainian southpaw is undefeated with a record of 21-0 with 14 knockouts. He claimed the WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight titles by defeating Anthony Joshua twice. Usyk uses excellent footwork, speed, and boxing skills to outbox opponents.
Fury is considered by many to be the lineal heavyweight champion. The self-proclaimed “Gypsy King” has a record of 34-0-1 with 24 knockouts. Fury has defeated fighters such as Deontay Wilder, Wladimir Klitschko, and Dillian Whyte. He stands 6′ 9” and uses his size and awkward style to wear down opponents. This fighter is extremely difficult to hit clean and has shown the ability to get up from devastating knockdowns.
This highly anticipated heavyweight title unification fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk has been in the works for over a year but has faced several delays. The bout was initially slated to take place in February, but it had to be postponed after Fury needed stitches for a serious cut he received during training.
After months of negotiations, the fight was rescheduled for May 2023. However, even the new date faced challenges when Usyk initially refused to agree to a rematch clause. After some back and forth, both fighters finally signed the contract for May 2023.
When?
Saturday, May 18, 2:00 pm ET
Ring Walk time:
(Estimated) 6:05 pm ET
Moneyline odds:
Oleksandr Usyk 1.995
Tyson Fury 1.995
Where can I watch it?
DAZN
Why Bet on Oleksandr Usyk?
Oleksandr Usyk comes into this fight on the heels of an impressive knockout victory over Daniel Dubois in August 2023. In that fight, he showed his excellent defensive skills, avoiding Dubois’ powerful punches before dropping him in the ninth round to take the win.
Usyk is the smaller fighter, standing 6’3” tall with a 78-inch reach. He weighs around 220 pounds for his fights. The Ukranian is currently 35 years old and is undefeated with a record of 21-0 and 14 knockouts. Despite being the shorter and lighter fighter, he uses tremendous footwork, angles, and generalship in the ring.
The Ukrainian needs to stay within range of Fury and work his way to close range where he can land his punches in different combinations. Usyk is an excellent counterpuncher, so he will look to slip and roll under Fury’s jab to close the distance. As a result, once inside, he will attack the body to try to slow down his larger rival.
Why Bet on Tyson Fury?
Fury comes into this fight on the heels of an impressive split decision victory over Francis Ngannou in October 2023. In that fight, Fury showcased his excellent defensive skills, fending off Ngannou’s powerful punches for all 10 rounds of the bout.
The “Gypsy King” has a considerable size and reach advantage over most opponents at 6’9″ and 85 inches in height. Fury generally weighs around 270 pounds for his fights. He turns 35 in August 2023 and boasts an undefeated record of 34-0-1 and 24 knockouts.
He needs to avoid getting into a give-and-take with Usyk. While Fury has underrated power, especially in his right hand, he is not a one-punch knockout artist. The Ukranian has shown a great chin throughout his career, so Tyson can’t look for one big punch to put him down. Instead, he needs to box smart and win rounds with his jab and movement.
Fury likes to switch between orthodox and southpaw stances, which could disrupt Usyk’s rhythm. He is also happy to fight ugly, attacking opponents on the inside and leaning on them to wear them down.
Final Betting Analysis: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury
This is one of the most anticipated heavyweight boxing bouts in recent memory, with Fury and Usyk possessing incredible talent and undefeated records. However, when analyzing the matchup, Tyson Fury emerges as the likely winner.
He has several advantages over his foe that point to his hand being raised in the end. First and foremost is Fury’s huge size advantage. He is larger than Usyk, who is 6’3″ and weighs about 220 pounds on fight night. Tyson is over 270 pounds at 6’9″. Fury’s incredible reach and ability to lean on opponents to wear them down will bother the smaller Usyk.
Our prediction for this fight is for Fury to use his jab and straight right hand to control the distance early. As the fight progresses, expect Fury to start leaning on Usyk and use his weight advantage to wear him down. As a result, our winner’s chip goes to the English man by unanimous decision.
Go for a victory for the local challenger by 1.995. If you bet $100 at such odds, you could get $99.5 for a total payout of $199.5.
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