Oleksandr Usyk Believes He Wins The Mind Games Over Tyson Fury
Playing mind games is commonplace in this sport. The latest occurrence is between unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) and WBC champion Tyson Fury (33-0-1, 23 KOs). Their representatives are in the process of negotiating a bout between for the spring of 2023. Both camps are optimistic a deal will be finalized and announced soon.
Usyk and Fury are known for their big personalities. Following his stoppage win over Dereck Chisora in December 2022, Fury confronted Usyk, who was sitting ringside. During the post-fight interview, the WBC champion verbally taunted the unified champion. It was one of the more memorable moments in 2022.
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Currently in his home country of Ukraine, Usyk reflected on that incident during an interview with the British news source, The Guardian.
“I think I was able to get into his head a little bit. I have been watching Tyson Fury get into the heads of his opponents for many years. And then I got into his head . . . When there are no cameras, he is completely different. He plays the bad guy for the cameras. I think he likes movies about love, and when he watches them, he cries a little, and that’s not a bad thing. When I watch some sentimental movies, I can shed a tear too.”
FAR FROM INTIMIDATED
Fury is an expert trash-talker, wielding the art of using words to belittle and intimidate his opponents. Those tactics are likely not going to work with Usyk. The unified champion walks to the beat of his own drum and seems not to care what anyone says about him. Besides, his country is in an ongoing war with Russia. With that as a backdrop, what could Fury say that could really get under Usyk’s skin?
The unified champion admits that Fury’s size and boxing skills would be difficult to overcome. However, he’s confident he has what it takes to win.
What we have presently is posturing and continuing psychological warfare being played out between Fury and Usyk. Fans have their fingers crossed this leads to an actual fight, and they get to see how all of this would play out between the two in the ring.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
