Is Unified Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Uysk Taking Shots At Tyson Fury?
You’ve heard very little from Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) following his September 25 defeat over Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) to win the unified IBF/WBA ‘super’/WBO world heavyweight titles. Uysk likes to stay out of the limelight. He does not carry the reputation as a trash-talker.
But it would be a mistake to confuse the anonymity and relative silence with a lack of confidence. It’s his self-belief that carried the 34-year-old from previously winning the undisputed world cruiserweight champion to then venturing up to heavyweight and ultimately beating Joshua. Usyk’s next fight is a rematch with Joshua, which will likely happen in the spring of 2022.
AN EYE ON FIGHTING FURY
But pundits are already opining about how he would fare in a potential unification match against the current WBC heavyweight belt-holder, Tyson Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs). It’s a fight that Usyk fancies a lot. During an interview with The Sun, he talked about his desire to get in the ring with him.
“Yes, of course. I do regard this fight as a huge one. I see him as a very good fighter, good athlete. He talks a lot, he has a tongue.”
Unlike Usyk, Fury is loquacious and is quite the trash-talker. Put a mic in his face, “The Gypsy King” is quick to let you know what’s on his mind, how highly he thinks of himself, and how he feels about his contemporaries in the sport.
DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS
It’s something that the unified champ has noted. The number two ranked fighter in the 3KingsBoxing Top Ten fighter rankings went to speak about how he is not one to go brag about himself and gave an eye-opening observation about the talkative Fury.
“He claims he’s the king of the kings, but it’s only he who thinks that. That’s what I can say about him…I train hard, I work hard, I put all my effort in. I’m not trying to present myself as the king of the universe.
I do what I have to do. I concentrate and I’m focused and I get the result according to my effort… I am capable of beating Fury because I’m not boasting that I can just punish and beat every boxer in the world, but I just go to the gym and do my job.”
One may describe his comments about Fury as a bit of a clap-back, if not a subtle diss. You would not be totally off the mark. in saying so. What he had to say speaks to how a fighter’s confidence can come in different forms. There are various ways to show self-belief. Some like to talk about it; others prefer to be about it.
Oleksandr Usyk respects Tyson Fury for what he’s accomplished, but he’s also confident in his ability to defeat him, were they ever to fight. That contrast, in and out of the ring, is what makes their potential fight very intriguing, should it ever happen.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
