By Kwasi Tum Ameyo: On May 18, 2024, two different men tread similar paths with the same goal of etching their faces into the magical book of immortality in their chosen sport. I started walking.
After widespread praise was accumulated by both players, fans of the match feared the worst.For the first time in 400 years, there is no undisputed heavyweight king.
Some argue that Fury and Usyk's separation was due to circumstances, while others say it was by choice. As expected, the finger of blame was pointed in Fury's direction as the reason this clash didn't happen. But for Fury and his camp, it was all a timing game. As the good books say, there is a time for everything under heaven, and a season for every activity. Business-savvy boxers, those who have managed their careers well, understand that there are great rewards to be had over time. Indeed, time and money solve everything.
The timing for this big clash is May 18th, which of course is Riyadh's season. Turki Alalcik is the chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority and has no problem answering all questions from both teams.By meeting the demands of both sides, the mutual disdain has been perfectly reconciled, and fight fans are once again responding to the call of the classics.
Memorable battles have a common theme. One man wants to box and the other wants to have a fight. In this sport, those with better technique will come out on top. All eyes will be on which of these two skilled technicians can pull off their master plan to become the sport's highest honor, the undisputed world heavyweight champion.
The sophistication of a southpaw's stance is the stuff of nightmares for any boxer. Boxing historians have long emphasized how average southpaw fighters have provided fits for notable champions. Oleksandr Usyk is no ordinary southpaw. This guy is blessed with excellent footwork and his upper body movement is the envy of most boxers. In 24 rounds against the rightful heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, Usyk proved that he is simply on another level. That man is one of a kind. The expression “muscles in motion” is appropriate. Similar to the legendary Muhammad Ali, Usyk floats around the ring like a butterfly, pinning him down and unleashing brutal punches at near cos90.
The main factor for success in the squared circle is the fighter's will to win. Usyk has proven that he can walk through fire and is as stubborn as an inanimate object. Contrary to popular belief by so-called boxing experts, Usyk is not a defensive fighter, but an exceptional offensive force with an ironclad defense. Oleksandr Usyk was the cruiserweight champion and currently the unified heavyweight champion. It's a feat that only a handful of men can boast of. And the man mentioned in the same bracket as the real Evander Holyfield deserves all the praise.
In the corner opposite Usyk is a guy who loves a challenge. When the stakes are high, his flamboyant perfection and mastery beyond his years are on display for all to see. The Oxford Dictionary would have to invent yet another superlative to describe this person. Using existing superlatives for this guy makes him sound like a broken record. The 6-foot-9 King of the Gypsies' skill set is unlike anything Usyk has seen before. Tyson Fury's skill set allows him to be comfortable in every corner of the ring. It's simply unique in that it's blessed with combat that not only pushes the action forward, but also pulls you back. And once again, there is a compelling argument that the laws of physics and human biology should be reinterpreted. Even a man of Tyson Fury's size would not be able to glide effortlessly across the canvas of a boxing ring.
Will Fury be reckless in battle? Ah, that's right. However, Fury's ability to accomplish the seemingly impossible puts him in a class of his own. Fury's final performance in the ring was not Fury at all. The knockdown he got against Ngannou was completely unacceptable. The good thing is that Fury is a realist and his ability to engage in introspective consideration is one of his greatest assets. Unlike Deontay Wilder, Fury doesn't like easy excuses. He accepts the similarities between boxing and his life. The similarities between boxing and life are very evident in the failures. When you are knocked down, truth is found in the belief that you stand up and fight.
The willingness of these great athletes to step into the ring and risk it all to reveal their courage, willpower, and enthusiasm is simply admirable. Everyone knows the challenges in front of them. The two men attempt to use each other to gauge their legendary status along the path to immortality. As the world waits for the first bell of the night, it will be key to victory for both players to stay focused and stick to their game plans. Usyk will get a chance to share a great ring. Like all 33 professional fighters who have shared the ring with Fury, Usyk will find his opponent's speed and power unmatched. Like finding the potency of a volatile reagent, Tyson's wrath is everywhere in the ring, yet nowhere to be found.
Despite being the trickiest test ever, Tyson Fury's name will be sewn into the tapestry of boxing history on May 18th. I would venture to say that there is already a page in boxing history about Tyson Fury, the end of which is yet to be written.
With Fury's fearlessness and ability to overcome seemingly impossible situations in mind, the undisputed heavyweight champion will return to his home in Morecambe, Lancashire.
my two cents
Kwasi Tum Ameyo
