Fury vs Usyk: Keys To Victory For Usyk

By Jacob Rodriguez

Photo Credit: Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing)/X

The best two heavyweights in the world will clash this Saturday in the first undisputed heavyweight title match in 25 years. On May 18^th, on this Top Rank Promotions card live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) will battle Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24KOs) to determine who the sole champion of the heavyweight division will be. Usyk, 37, from Ukraine, owns three major world heavyweight titles. Tyson Fury, 35, from the United Kingdom, brings the WBC version of the heavyweight title and the lineal world heavyweight title.

Oleksandr Usyk, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world, will become an undisputed champion in two divisions and the lineal heavyweight champion if he defeats Tyson Fury this Saturday.

This fight will be challenging for Usyk and his toughest contest as a heavyweight. The Ukrainian champion must be the best version of himself, and it will take a combination of skills, will, and intelligence if he wants to take Fury’s WBC strap.

Here is a closer look at Oleksandr Usyk and an analysis of what he must do to take down the WBC heavyweight champion.

Strengths:

 Usyk arguably has the best footwork in the heavyweight division. His greatest skill is his ability to move in to attack his opponents and move out before his opponents can counterattack. Usyk moves in angles and is often in the best position to attack and move. He starts every attack with his jab and varies his combinations to the head and body of his opponents. He is resilient and always finds a way to overcome obstacles.

Weaknesses:

Oleksandr doesn't like to get hit to the body; it's his Achilles heel. In their second fight, Anthony Joshua hit Usyk with a body shot in the fifth round that made the Ukraine native retreat from the exchange and wince in pain. Joshua continued attacking the body for the remainder of the fight, significantly slowing the Ukrainian’s movement. Sometimes, Usyk tends to move backward after an exchange with an opponent, resulting in him getting hit with a counter straight right. In boxing, moving backward after an exchange is taboo and goes against the fundamentals of boxing defense. Usyk cannot move straight backward against Fury. The Brit has an 85in reach and can easily hit Usyk with a straight right while Usyk is retreating.

Photo Credit: Instagram: (@usykaa)

Keys to Victory:

Constantly moving will be Usyk’s greatest weapon against Fury. The “Gypsy King” hasn’t faced anyone with the mobility of his Ukrainian rival. On fight night, Fury can weigh up to 277lbs. That is a lot of weight to move around the ring for twelve rounds. Usyk needs to move like he did against Derek Chisora in their match four years ago. Usyk must jab, move, and be deliberate with his attacks. It will also help attack Tyson's soft midsection. Usyk must avoid being backed into a corner or against the ropes. Fury is usually the bigger of the two fighters in the ring and likes to put his enormous body against his opponents in tight exchanges. That’s a lot of weight for Usyk to struggle to get off him constantly, which will drain his strength and stamina. Sticking and moving over twelve rounds and avoiding being cornered by Fury is what Usyk must do to give himself the best chance to win this fight and become the new undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.