Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury has to happen now before father time gets them
A penny for Tyson Fury’s thoughts but a few hundred million will hopefully get him in the ring with Oleksandr Usyk early next year.
While the debate raged about whether Daniel Dubois landed a low blow or a legal shot, the focus in the Ukrainian’s team immediately turned to the Gypsy King. The answer was simple for the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion in Wroclaw.
“I need to fight Fury before I retire,” said the Ukrainian in the bowels of the Tarczynski Arena as the clock turned to 2am on Sunday morning. But father time waits for no man. Usyk is 37 in January. The moment is now for the undisputed clash with WBC champion Fury.
The Gypsy King, at 35, is no spring chicken either.
READ MORE: Oleksandr Usyk knocks out Daniel Dubois – but fans think Brit won it with low blow
Of course, we must wait for Fury to get his money-spinning duel with MMA fighter Francis Ngannou out of the way. In a sporting context, that clash counts for little other than to ensure plenty of money for all involved.
Fury has the title of the best heavyweight on the planet at the moment given his wins over Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder on an unblemished record. But there remains one hurdle for him to navigate before he can truly be declared the best of this era.
What did you make of the low-blow drama? Let us know in the comments section below
That is Usyk, the man who beat Anthony Joshua twice to claim three of the four world titles on offer and is now ticking off his mandatories.
Some argued that the Ukrainian showed signs against Dubois that his age was catching up with him, but outside of the fifth-round drama, he never looked troubled by the British fighter and there were no real signs of the champion looking past his best as he went through the gears when needed.
KSI takes on Tommy Fury at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday, October 14th as he hopes to cause an upset. Logan Paul will also be fighting at the event in front of what is expected to be a sell-out crowd.
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Usyk was comfortable putting Dubois under pressure and seemed unfettered throughout by the power in the hands of the Brit, who has knocked out 18 of his 21 opponents.
The unbeaten Ukrainian – who stretched his record to 21 wins – established the superb southpaw jab in the early rounds then found a home for his left. If there is a vulnerability it is certainly to the body but the debate over the fifth-round shot goes on.
It was low despite the claims from Dubois' team. The rules state that a shot below the navel and the top of the hips is low.
Referee Luis Pabon made his decision in a split secon and if he had adjudged it a legal shot then who is to say Usyk wouldn’t have just got up and continued?
The defending champion – within the rules – used three minutes and 46 seconds to recover but Dubois still should have sniffed blood. Instead, he hesitated and Usyk stayed in his rhythm.
It was a body shot followed by a succession of blows which put the Brit down in the eight before a stinging southpaw jab from Usyk left the Londoner on one knee, looking up at the referee and deciding he’d had enough in the ninth as he failed to beat the count.
It brought back memories of when an eye injury forced him into submission against Joe Joyce but, at only 25, there is time for Dubois to come again. For now the focus should be on Fury against Usyk.
“If Fury wants it, I want it but he cannot hit me below the belt,” Usyk joked after he starred in front of thousands of Ukrainians on a special night for the war-torn country just 300 miles from the border of their homeland.
Now it’s time to get serious, though. Fury will no doubt have plenty to say about Usyk’s performance and the low blow when he does speak.
While the promoters will exchange their own words about who is at fault for the fight not happening already. But the sport needs these two great fighters to let their fists do the talking now.
- Tyson Fury
- Oleksandr Usyk
- Boxing
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