OLEKSANDR USYK has been keeping his head on a swivel in his final preparations for Tyson Fury.
The undefeated Ukrainian will look to become a two-time undisputed champion when he faces the Gypsy King for all the heavyweight marbles on May 18.
Oleksandr Usyk faces Anthony Joshua on May 18Credit: EPA
The Ukrainian has been keeping his head on a swivel in training for the Saudi showdownCredit: INSTAGRAM@USYKAA
Usyk has been fine-tuning his head movement ahead of the Riyadh rumbleCredit: INSTAGRAM@USYKAA
Usyk’s head movement and defence were on point in his back-to-back clashes with Anthony JoshuaCredit: REUTERS
Fan favourite Usyk will have significant height and reach disadvantages when he throws down with the WBC titleholder.
The southpaw’s path to victory lies in utilising his speed, footwork and head movement – the latter of which he’s been fine-tuning ahead of the Saudi showdown.
Fresh footage from the 37-year-old’s training camp has shown him extensively practising his bobbing and weaving.
Usyk, of course, brilliantly kept his head off the centre line in his back-to-back victories over Anthony Joshua.
Although he was aided by AJ’s bizarre decision not to utilise his attributes and attempt to outbox him.
Fury, 35, could very well opt to adopt a similar approach in the first undisputed heavyweight title fight in nearly 25 years.
Although his recent admission that the former cruiserweight king has “got more than boxing ability” than him suggests he’ll undertake a different approach.
It would make sense for Fury to stay out of the pocket and keep Usyk at the end of his 85-inch power jab.
As would carefully-timed blitzes when he lands something of note from a distance.
If he chooses to engage Usyk in the pocket, he’ll find himself eating punches in bunches from all angles.
The physical advantages Fury possesses over fan favourite Usyk have made him the bookies’ favourite to win the historic unification bout.
But the Wythenshawe warrior recently told Queensberry Promotions: “It won’t come down to, ‘He’s bigger than me or he’s smaller than me.
“I think it will come down to who wants it most on the night.
“If he wants it more than me, he will win and if I want it more than him, I’ll win, but either way I think we’re in for a real treat.”
Fury is relishing the challenge of becoming the first man to defeat smooth operator Usyk in the professional ranks, saying: “Usyk is a bad man.
“He’s a real bad man and any underestimation of Oleksandr Usyk – you’d be a mug.
“I’m training hard for him, I’m doing everything I can, I respect Usyk as a man.
“I respect his career as well, he’s been Olympic champion, he’s had 350 amateur fights or something.
“And he’s been an undisputed cruiserweight champion, and he’s a unified heavyweight champion.
“So, you have to respect that.
“I’m not fighting a guy that’s had 14 and won 11, I’m fighting the real deal, as real a deal as Holyfield.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
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