Tyson Fury will undergo his first real test in nine years when he faces IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 18th.
Many feel that WBC champion Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) has already proven himself to be the best heavyweight in the division over the past six years, but the reality is otherwise. . Fury has been in the doldrums for nearly a decade since scoring a notable victory over an aging and ring-rust Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
Parade of victorious enemies
Fury just showed that he can beat close opponents, and you have to give a lot of credit to his management and promoters for making him look like the best by going against opponents he can beat.
In fact, Fury hasn't fought an elite-level heavyweight since his 2015 win over Wladimir Klitschko, which came at the end of his career against an older fighter in his early 40s.
overwhelming opposition
A look at Fury's wins since 2015 under the microscope:
– Francis Ngannou: A novice making his boxing debut.
– Derek Chisora: Same.
– Dillian Whyte: Journeyman.
– Deontay Wilder: Fury got lucky in what many fans saw as a long count.
– Deontay Wilder: Powerful, but has the boxing skills of a toddler.
– Otto Wallin: A random former amateur with no power or size.
– Tom Schwartz: An unknown martial artist from Germany.
– Francesco Pianeta: A bottom-tier fighter designed to increase coordination/confidence.
– Sefer Seferi: Cruiserweight not fit to fight at heavyweight.
– Wladimir Klitschko: 40 years old, well past his prime.
“Tyson Fury didn't get as much love as he thought he would get when he returned to England. No big announcements or anything. We all go into depression,” commentator Ade said. Oladipo said on DAZN Boxing. Xwe're talking about years ago when Tyson Fury returned after a long hiatus from the ring.
Joseph Parker said of Fury: “No one believed he would come back after all the weight he had put on with drugs and alcohol.''
“About five years ago, I met Tyson Fury in Monaco to sign him, and he was about 25 or 26 stone and was sweating. I thought to myself, 'He's not going to get back to elite level at heavyweight.' I thought inside,” promoter Eddie Hearn said.
“I could see in his eyes that he wanted it, and I believed that if I could give him a chance, he could win a world title. I truly believe that ” promoter Frank Warren said of Fury.
Usyk: Moment of Truth
The moment of truth for Fury is the fight against Usyk on May 18th, and will he be the real deal, or a carefully packaged product engineered by his handlers to fool a gullible and unsuspecting public? You will understand.
Tyson has a glorious undefeated record, but the past nine years have been full of canned tomatoes. What Fury is made of will be revealed on May 18th, and fans aren't going to like what they find out.