Boxing fans and casual observers are set to be treated to a mega fight on May 18, as Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will touch gloves and fight for the spoils on offer
Indeed, the upcoming bout is perhaps the biggest the sport has had for decades, with it being the first time since 2003 when Lennox Lewis retired as the undisputed heavyweight champion that the division had a sole champion.
Both Fury and Usyk will be looking to create history for themselves when they enter the ring in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. They each hold belts across the weight class for different bodies, but May 18 will see them have the opportunity to unify them and stake a claim as one of the best boxers the sport has had.
How will the fight turn out?
With anticipation continuing to build ahead of the fight, there are many who will be wondering what could be expected when these two behemoths enter the ring and square off against each other.
Both boxers have been involved in a war of words with each other, and postponements of previously scheduled dates have only added intensity and intrigue to the upcoming fight.
In preparation for the contest, each of them have been involved in fights that didn’t exactly go to plan. Fury managed to defeat Francis Ngannou in controversial circumstances during his Saudi Arabia debut, when he was knocked down and appeared to lose most of the rounds. Usyk’s fight against Daniel Dubois had its own moments of controversial circumstances, as it was deemed the Ukrainian was hit with a shot below the belt in the fifth round, given time to recover, and then allowed to get the job done despite being knocked down.
This can make it difficult to know what might happen when the pair meet, and it seems the bookies have no real idea what could happen either. With the event set to be one of the biggest, it’s going to draw plenty of interest from bettors, but sportsbooks don’t appear to be providing too many insights with their odds. If you want to engage in boxing bets on the fight, you’ll find that both fighters are priced with the same odds of 1.92. In essence, the winner of this fight could be just as unpredictable as the flip of a coin. If you like the idea of a draw because of how matched the two boxers are, then you can get odds of 16.00, but they suggest that it’s very unlikely this will happen.
Tale of the Tape: Are there any advantages possible to spot?
With both Fury and Usyk appearing to be so evenly matched and it difficult to know who may actually win this bout in Riyadh on May 18, it can be worth taking a look at the tale of the tape and each individual’s statistics. This could help to identify whether there are any clues about who might have the upper hand and who might have vulnerabilities or weaknesses that may be exploited.
When looking at each individual’s boxing record, there isn’t much that splits either of them. Both fighters are undefeated in the ring, but Fury has more fight experience as a professional. He is 34-0-1, whereas Usyk is currently 21-0-0.
If there is an area where one could potentially obtain an advantage over the other, it may be in terms of physicality and genetics. Fury is the younger fighter, by just under two years. He is also the bigger man in terms of height, reach, and weight. This could mean he has a stronger punch as he can put more power behind it, while also being able to keep distance.
However, with that said, Usyk will be lighter on his feet and can get up close to Fury when he wants, using his speed and agility to test the British boxer. He has proven a challenge for bigger men in the past, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he were to pose the Gypsy King issues on May 18.
Too close to call but expect entertainment
It’s a mega-fight and one that much of the boxing world and casual fans have been waiting for. It has all the ingredients to be an incredible showcase event and history will be made.
Which fighter ends up as the undisputed champion if a winner is declared, though, is anyone’s guess at this moment in time.