Oleksandr Usyk seems to have undergone significant physical transformation during his training for the upcoming showdown against Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, scheduled for May 18th.
The IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion, Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs), has notably bulked up and appears larger compared to his previous fight where he successfully defended his title against Daniel Dubois in Wrocław, Poland last August.
Is Fury’s size his sole advantage?
Usyk is gearing up to face the WBC champion Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) who typically weighs over 270 pounds during fights at Kingdom Arena.
Despite the potential for Fury to come in slightly lighter for this fight compared to his prior 277-pound weigh-in against Francis Ngannou last October, he is still projected to weigh in the low 260s, which is considerate for a fighter over 220 pounds. This significant weight difference poses a challenge for Usyk.
Nevertheless, Fury’s strength predominantly lies in his ability to utilize his size advantage to overwhelm and impose his physicality on smaller opponents rather than his punching power.
He is likely to leverage his weight advantage of over 50 pounds to impose his will on Usyk and wear him down similar to his strategy against Deontay Wilder.
Fury may resort to rough tactics like illegal punches, low blows, and elbows to break down Usyk. Given the circumstances, Usyk may not receive any leniency for being outmuscled come May 18th, making it unlikely for the referee to intervene decisively regarding Fury’s foul play.
In Fury’s recent bout with the 272-pound Ngannou, Fury’s size undoubtedly played a significant role, albeit Ngannou’s lack of conditioning was apparent. This contest underscored Fury’s adeptness in utilizing his physicality to dominate opponents until they succumb.
Fury approaching the twilight of his career
Regrettably, the Gypsy King’s combat approach has become dependent on his size, veering towards lethargy. With limited options for weight management, Fury’s advancing age makes it challenging to rekindle his fleet-footed fighting style from nine years ago when he disrupted Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
Fury is anticipated to enter the upcoming fight at a reduced weight; nevertheless, this adjustment may not play to his advantage as his speed has diminished over the years and at 35, his aging physique hampers his mobility.
