WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has changed his tune by, pouring on compliments for IBF/WBA/WBO champ Oleksandr Usyk ahead of their fight on May 18th in Riyadh.
Fury’s Fortune on the Line
The new gushing charm display by Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) could be either a trick to disarm the former undisputed cruiserweight champion Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) or a sign that reality is starting to hit the Gypsy King that he could be in over his head for his fight.
Does Fury realize he’s bitten off more than he can chew this time? Usyk is a completely different talent than some of Fury’s recent opponents, Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora.
The 35-year-old Fury has a lot to lose in terms of popularity and, more importantly, money. Fury wants that massive payday against Anthony Joshua to create generational J Paul Getty-like wealth, and that dough goes poof if Usyk beats him.
A loss to Usyk would seriously cramp his billionaire dreams. Enough money to buy a small country. We’re talking obscene levels of wealth here. All that would be gone if Usyk wins.
“I Respect Him Now” – Vomit
“Oleksandr Usyk’s a real bad man, and to underestimate Usyk, you’d be a mug. So I’m training hard for him, I’m doing everything I can,” said Tyson Fury to Queensberry about his undisputed heavyweight fight against Oleksandr Usyk on May 18th.
We all remember when Fury was spewing insults about Usyk at every turn, but now he’s calling him an Olympic champion and an elite fighter. It doesn’t seem believable.
“I respect Usyk as a man. I respect his career as well – Olympic champion, undisputed cruiserweight champion, unified heavyweight champion,” said Fury.
I see this as fake flattery by Fury, trying to charm his way to victory against Fury. He clearly hopes Usyk will take it easy on him and fight at 70% capacity on May 18th, which may be enough for him to eke out a close win.
This newfound reference Fury is showing to Usyk is too late for him to brush under the rug all his past criticisms of him. Usyk can smell a rat, and he’s not going to fight at half-speed. Fury is clearly trying to disarm Usyk because can ruin his Vanderbilt-level billionaire dreams.
