Karl Froch, manager, is eager for his upcoming undisputed title bout against IBF/WBA/WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk on May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following what he perceives as a decline in performance by WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs).
Despite facing criticism from British fans for his outspoken comments, Froch has not shied away from expressing his opinions about the 35-year-old Fury.
Froch believes that Fury’s ambitious five-fight plan seems unrealistic and unlikely to materialize, especially if he is outboxed by the more skilled, agile, and athletic Usyk on May 18, potentially leading to the end of his career. This dream appears to be fading for Fury.
Observations on the decline
“I think it’s a valid observation that I made about his slowdown and decreased use of feints before throwing punches. He needs to use more of those feints,” explained Karl Froch about Tyson Fury, who seems to be showing signs of decline at 35 years old. talkSPORT boxing discussed Fury’s situation.
Froch asserts that Fury’s performance has plateaued over the past three years, albeit masked by his aggressive fighting style and matches against weaker opponents such as Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte, and Derek Chisora.
“He’s been knocked down four or five times in his last 70 rounds and he’s aging. He’s gaining weight in between fights,” Froch commented. “He’s reached 26 stone. He’s not that heavy now, but he’s carrying a significant amount of weight around his midsection and love handles. He’s put on some extra pounds.”
The Wilder fight and Fury’s subsequent actions have had a negative impact on his reflexes and skills. His celebratory lifestyle, weight gain, and inconsistent fights against weaker opponents have further hindered his performance.
Fighting with physical condition
“As you get older at 35 or 36, it becomes more challenging. I retired at 36 because hitting 12 stone was difficult,” Mr. Froch recalled. “I know he doesn’t have to make weight as a heavyweight, but he has an ideal fighting weight of around 18 1/2 stone.”
Unrealistic hope of five more fights?
“So, if he wants to perform at his best, he needs to work towards that weight. I just think it gets harder as you get older to reach that weight. He’s talking about fighting five times. How feasible is that? I’m not sure. I hope he performs well against Usyk, unifies the belts, and becomes the undisputed heavyweight champion,” Froch remarked.
Fury’s vision of engaging in five additional fights seems unlikely to come to fruition, as he still needs to defeat Usyk twice, Anthony Joshua twice, and Francis Ngannou.
Currently, Fury is on a five-fight losing streak unless he secures controversial victories, similar to the one against Ngannou last October. However, such outcomes in Saudi Arabia would not be well-received, potentially causing global embarrassment.
If the Saudis intend to offer Anthony Joshua a substantial amount of money to fight Fury following a loss, they may be able to persuade him. Nonetheless, from a sporting perspective, it may not be the best course of action. It would be more appropriate for the winner of Usyk and Joshua to face off, rather than promoting a fight involving the loser. Nonetheless, the Saudis are evidently determined to orchestrate a Fury-Joshua bout under any circumstances.
